rr 


_  3pular  Official  Guide 

=====  TO  • 


Jbt 

!n  loo  logical 


By 

WILLIAM    T.    HORNADAY,    Sc.D. 

Director  and  General  Curator 


MAPS,  PLANS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 
J?ork  Zoological 


ONLY  AUTHORIZED  GUIDE 


Price  25  Cents 


BISON   EDITION.     COMPLETELY   REVISED   AND  EXTENDED 


GEISEI.  LIERARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  SAN  DIEGO 
r>  U  JOLLA,  CAUFORN^ 

e>^ 

'~-^>    x^- 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE 

TO  THE 

New  York  Zoological  Park 


By  WILLIAM  T.  HORN  AD  AY,  Sc.D. 
Director  and  General  Curator 


WITH   MAPS,  PLANS  AND   ILLUSTRATIONS 


TENTH  EDITION— OCTOBER  1,  1909 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 

1 1  WALL  STREET,  NEW  YORK 


1st  Edition, 

October, 

1899  — 

3000 

2d 

May, 

1900  — 

5000 

3d 

December, 

1900  — 

5000 

4th 

October, 

1901  — 

3000 

5th 

June, 

1902  — 

100CO 

6;h 

" 

1903  — 

10COO 

7th 

" 

1904  — 

15000 

8th 

" 

1906  — 

7000 

9th 

« 

1907  — 

30000 

10th 

October, 

1909  — 

30000 

COPYRIGHT,  1899,  1900,  1901,  1902,  1903,  1904,  1906,  1907  and 
NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


preface 

The  publication  of  this  revised  and  extended  edition  of 
the  Guide  to  the  Zoological  Park  was  purposely  delayed  a 
year,  in  order  to  make  the  work  more  complete.  By 
slightly  anticipating  the  completion  of  the  Elephant  House, 
Zebra  Houses  and  Eagle  Aviary,  and  including  them  herein, 
we  are  now  able  to  offer  a  Guide  Book  to  the  Zoological 
Park  as  practically  completed. 

The  visitor  is  not  to  understand,  however,  that  with  the 
completion  of  the  features  named  above  nothing  more  will 
remain  to  be  done.  An  institution  of  this  kind  never 
reaches  a  state  of  absolute  completion,  with  no  further 
possibilities  of  improvement.  But  the  building  of  boundary 
walls,  and  the  rebuilding  of  temporary  entrances,  are  mat- 
ters of  small  amount  in  comparison  with  the  completion  of 
a  grand  series  of  installations  for  animals,  and  buildings 
for  public  comfort. 

Few  indeed  are  the  persons  who  know,  or  who  ever  will 
know,  the  extent  to  which  both  the  general  design  and  the 
details  of  the  Zoological  Park  have  been  originated,  and 
hammered  out  of  the  raw  materials.  From  the  inception 
of  the  undertaking,  the  work  of  development  has  involved 
a  continuous  struggle  to  meet  new  conditions.  Although 
precedents  and  models  for  things  to  be  done  were  sought 
far  and  wide,  in  all  save  a  very  few  instances,  our  needs 
were  so  peculiar,  and  so  different  from  those  of  other 
zoological  gardens  and  parks,  we  have  found  really  very 
little  that  we  could  copy.  The  abundant-room  idea  on 
which  the  Zoological  Park  was  founded,  and  our  desire  for 
the  full  utilization  of  the  works  of  nature,  have  from  the 
first  taxed  the  creative  faculties  of  the  Society  to  the  ut- 
most. 

It  has  been  gratifying  to  find  in  other  zoological  estab- 
lishments a  number  of  features  which  we  could  utilize  here, 
thereby  saving  ourselves  something  in  the  eternal  grind  of 
invention  and  experiment,  and  we  have  gladly  made  prom- 
inent mention  of  such  cases. 

While  it  is  possible  to  complete  the  equipment  of  animal 
installations,  for  a  Zoological  Park,  and  fill  them  with  fine 
collections,  the  demand  for  more  animals  is  continuous. 


VI  PREFACE 

Our  wild  creatures  are  not  immortal ;  and,  like  human  be- 
ings, they  live  out  their  allotted  lives  and  pass  away.  The 
great  majority  do  not  perpetuate  themselves  in  captivity, 
and  the  depleted  ranks  must  be  filled  by  new  gifts  and 
new  purchases.  Gifts  of  specimens,  and  funds  for  pur- 
chases, must  constantly  be  forthcoming. 

The  Executive  Committee  makes  grateful  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  loyal  and  generous  support  it  has  constantly 
received  from  the  Board  of  Managers  and  the  members  of 
the  Zoological  Society,  and  from  the  Government  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  Thanks  to  a  judicious  union  of  these 
forces,  the  development  of  the  Zoological  Park  has  gone 
forward  rapidly  and  satisfactorily.  Although  the  actual 
period  of  construction  has  been  remarkably  short  for  so  vast 
an  undertaking,  everything  constructed  is  of  the  most  per- 
manent character.  It  is  only  just  to  note  the  fact  that 
while  the  Zoological  Park  is  an  institution  of  national  in- 
terest and  importance,  and  free  to  all  the  world,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  gifts  of  animals  it  has  been  created  and 
is  maintained  wholly  by  the  citizens  of  the  City  of  New 
York.  The  State  has  contributed  nothing. 

THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


Contents 

Page 

Statistics  of  the  Zoological  Park x 

Origin  1 

Means  of  Access  4 

Admission   4 

Physical  Aspect  of  the  Grounds 9 

MAMMALS. 

The   Bison    15 

Mountain  Sheep  Hill  18 

The  Antelope  House 23 

The  Small-Deer  House  30 

The  Mountain  Goat  36 

The  Prong-Horned   Antelope    .• 37 

The  Camels   40 

The  Llamas  and  their  relatives  41 

The  North  American  Deer   42 

The  Zebra  Houses  47 

The  Asiatic  and  European  Deer 50 

The  Lion  House  54 

The  Sea-Lion  Pool 60 

The  Primate  House  63 

The  Elephant  House  73 

The  Wolves  and  Foxes  83 

The  Otter  Pools   85 

The  Small-Mammal    House 87 

The  Pumas  and  Lynxes  99 

The  Burrowing  Rodents  100 

The  Prairie-Dogs    102 

The  Bear  Dens 103 

The  Beaver  Pond 112 

BIRDS. 

The  Duck  Aviary 115 

The  Flying  Cage  120 

The  Aquatic  Bird  House 125 

Wild  Turkey  Enclosure 130 

The  Large  Bird-House 130 

Wild-Fowl  Pond 136 

The  Pheasant  Aviary 136 

The  Ostrich  House 142 

The  Cranes  147 

REPTILES. 

The  Reptile  House  151 

The  Tortoises  and  Lizards  153 

The  Alligators  and  Crocodiles  156 

The  Serpents   159 

MAPS. 

Map  of  Zoological  Park  (Cover) 2 

Sketch  Map,  New  York 3 

Sketch  Map,  Vicinity  of  Park 5 

Index 167 

vii 


3JUuHtrattmui 

Page 

Indian  Leopard  Frontispiece 

Rocking  Stone  and  Restaurant xii 

Dining  Room,  Restaurant 6 

The  Flying  Cage  10 

The  Boat-House 12 

American  Bison 16 

European  Bison 17 

Himalayan  Tahr  22 

Sardinian  Mouflon 23 

Nubian  Giraffes 25 

White-Tailed  Gnu  27 

White  Mountain  Goats  37 

Grant's  Zebra 48 

Prjevalsky  Horses   49 

Barbary  Lion  55 

Jaguar    57 

Primate  House 62 

Orang-Utan   66 

Chimpanzee   68 

Gelada  Baboon 70 

Red-Headed  Mangabev   71 

Ruffed  Lemur 72 

Indian  Elephant 74 

African  Rhinoceros    77 

Hippopotamus 78 

South  American  Tapir 79 

Tasmanian  Wolf 82 

Young  Leopard  86 

Ocelot   88 

Hyaena  Dog 90 

African  Porcupine 93 

Canada  Porcupine 95 

Nine-Banded  Armadillo  96 

Echidna 97 

Great  Ant-Eater  98 

Bear  Dens  104 

European  Brown  Bear 110 

Long-Lipped  Sloth  Bear   112 

Great  White  Pelican   115 

Water  Birds  116 

Upland  Goose  118 

Coscoroba  Swans   119 

Great  White  Heron 123 

Gyrfalcon  127 

Spectacle  Owl 129 

Sulphur-Crested   Cockatoo   132 

Toco  Toucan 134 

Manchurian  Eared  Pheasant 138 

Golden  Pheasant  139 

Ceram  Cassowary  143 

Paradise  Crane  and  Crowned  Crane 148 

Whooping  Crane   149 

Alligators 150 

Group  of  Tortoises 154 

Florida  Crocodile   157 

Fer-de-Lance   160 

Copperhead  Snake   161 

Cobra-de-Capello  162 

Transformation  of  Frog .163 

ix 


gtfaitstta  0f  %  Znnlorjtntl 

JULY  15,  1909. 

Final  plan   of  the  Zoological  Park   approved  by   Park  Board, 

November  22,  1897. 

Zoological  Society   assumed  control  of  grounds,   July   1,   1898. 
First  building  begun,  August  11,  1898. 
Park  formally  opened  to  the  public,  November  9,  1899. 

Large  Animal  Buildings   (all  heated) 11 

Small  Animal  Buildings   (4  heated) 10 

Large  Groups  of  Outdoor  Dens,  Aviaries  and  Corrals 12 

Animal  Storehouses,  for  winter  use 3 

Restaurants    2 

Public-Comfort  Buildings    6 

Entrances    8 

Area  of  Park  Land  and  Water 264  acres 

Area  of  Water 30  acres 

Walks  and  Roads 7.78  miles 

Fences     10.55  miles 

LIVE  ANIMALS  IN  THE  COLLECTIONS  ON 
JULY  15,  1909. 

Mammals      246  species,      743  specimens. 

Birds    644         "       2,816 

Reptiles    256         "       1,969 


Total 1,146  5,528 

Attendance  of  visitors  in  1908 1,413,741 


5j>ro  fork  Z0uio0tral 


Hox.  GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAN,  Mayor. 
HON.  HENRY  SMITH,  President  Department  of  Parks. 


HENRY  FAIRFIELD  OSBORN. 

txrrutiur  (Euwmitlrr 
MADISON  GRANT,  Chairman. 

JOHN  S.  BARNES,  WILLIAM  WHITE  NILES, 

PERCY  R.  PYNE,  WM.  PIERSON  HAMILTON, 

SAMUEL  THORNE,  HENRY  F.  OSBORN,  ex-officio. 

MADISON  GRANT,  Secretary,  Office,  11  Wall  Street. 
PERCY  R.  PYNE,  Treasurer,  30  Pine  Street. 
JOHN  L.  CADWALADER,  Counsel. 

©ffirmi  0f  ilj*  Zoological  Park 
WILLIAM  T.  HORNADAY,  Sc.D. 

Director  and  General  Curator. 

H.  R.  MITCHELL,  Chief  Clerk  and  Disbursing  Officer. 
RAYMOND  L.  DITMARS,  Curator  of  Reptiles,  Ass't  Curator 

of  Mammals. 

C.  WILLIAM  BEEBE,  Curator  of  Birds. 
H.  W.  MERKEL,  Chief  Forester  and  Constructor. 
GEORGE  M.  BEERBOWER,  Civil  Engineer. 
ELWIN  R.  SANBORN,  Photographer  and  Assistant  Editor. 
WILLIAM  I.  MITCHELL,  Assistant  to  Chief  Clerk. 


Staff 

W.  REID  BLAIR,  D.V.S.,  Veterinarian. 
HARLOW  BROOKS,  M.D.,  Pathologist. 


atto  lEttginwr 
HEINS  &  LA  FARGE,  Architects. 
H.  DF.B.  PARSONS,  Consulting  Engineer. 


GENERAL  STATUS 
OP  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 

Origin. — The  New  York  Zoological  Park  originated  with 
the  New  York  Zoological  Society,  a  scientific  body  incor- 
porated in  1895,  under  a  special  charter  granted  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  declared  objects 
of  the  Society  are  three  in  number — "A  public  Zoological 
Park ;  the  preservation  of  our  native  animals ;  the  promotion 
of  zoology."  At  present  (January  1,  1909),  the  Society  con- 
sists of  1  Benefactor,  3  Founders  in  Perpetuity,  23  Founders, 
13  Associate  Founders,  38  Patrons,  189  Life  Members,  1,397 
Annual  Members  and  14  Corresponding  Members. 

Henry  Fairfield  Osborn  is  the  President  of  the  Society. 
The  affairs  of  the  Society  are  managed  by  a  Board  of  Mana- 
gers of  thirty-six  persons,  which  meets  three  times  each 
year.  The  planning  and  general  development  of  the  Zoo- 
logical Society  is  in  the  hands  of  an  Executive  Committee, 
of  eight  members  as  follows;  Madison  Grant,  John  S. 
Barnes,  Percy  R.  Pyne,  Samuel  Thorne,  William  White 
Niles,  Levi  P.  Morton,  Wm.  Pierson  Hamilton  and  Henry 
Fairfield  Osborn,  ex  officio,  Madison  Grant  is  Chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee  and  Secretary  of  the  Society,  and  his 
office  is  at  No.  11  Wall  Street.  Dr.  William  T.  Hornaday 
is  the  Director  and  General  Curator  of  the  Zoological  Park, 
and  the  offices  of  the  Zoological  Park  staff  are  at  present 
located  in  the  Service  Building.  The  address  is  183d  Street 
and  Southern  Boulevard.  The  Society  assumed  control 
of  the  grounds  on  July  1,  1898,  and  began  the  first  excava- 
tion, for  the  Bird  House,  on  August  llth.  The  Park  Depart- 
ment began  work,  on  the  Wild-Fowl  Pond,  on  August  29, 
1898. 

Sources  of  Income. — The  funds  devoted  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Zoological  Park  have  been  derived  from  the 
following  sources: 

1.  From  the  Zoological  Society,  obtained  by  subscriptions 
from  private  citizens — funds  for  plans,  for  the  erection  of 
buildings,    aviaries,    dens    and    other    accommodations    for 
animals;  and  for  the  purchase  of  animals. 

2.  From  the  City  of  New  York — by  vote  of  the  Board  of 
Estimate  and  Apportionment — funds  for  the  construction  of 

1 


2  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

walks,  roads,  sewers  and  drainage,  water  supply,  public  com- 
fort buildings,  entrances,  grading,  excavating  of  large  ponds 
and  lakes,  annual  maintenance,  and  also  for  animal  build- 
ings. 

Up  to  January  1,  1909,  the  Zoological  Society  had  ex- 
pended, of  its  own  funds,  for  plans,  construction  and  live 
animals,  about  $400,000,  which  had  been  derived  from  its 
special  subscription  fund,  and  from  the  annual  dues  and 
fees  of  its  members. 

Privileges. — Because  of  the  fact  that  the  Zoological  Soci- 
ety has  undertaken  to  furnish  all  the  animals  for  the  Zoolog- 
ical Park,  the  City  of  New  York  has  agreed  that  all  the 
revenue-producing  privileges  of  the  Park  shall  be  controlled 
by  the  Society.  All  net. profits  derived  from  the  restaurants, 
boats,  refreshments,  riding  animals,  the  sale  of  photographs, 
books,  etc.,  and  all  admission  fees,  are  expended  by  the 
Society  in  the  purchase  of  animals  for -the  Park.  It  is  well 
that  visitors  should  know  .  that  all  net  profits  realised  in 
'the  Park  go  directly  toward  the  increase  of-  the  animal  collec- 
tions. .  ... 

The  Society  will  maintain  a  supply  of  boats  for  hire,  and 
riding  animals  of  various  -kinds  for  the  amusement  of  chil- 
dren. 

Location. — The  Zoological  Park  is  the  geographical  cen- 
ter of  that  portion  of  Greater  New  York  known  as  the  Bor- 
ough of  Bronx.  From  east  to  west  it  is  half-way  between 
the  Hudson  Rivet  and  Long  Island  Sound,  and  from  north 
to  south  it  is  midway  between  the  mouth  of  the  Harlem 
River  and  Mount  Vernoii.  From  the  City  Hall  to  the  Reptile 
House  the  distance  is  eleven  miles.  The  northwest  entrance 
is  about  half  a  mile  from  Fordham  station  on  the  Harlem 
Railway. 

The  area  of  the  Park  is  264  acres,  divided  as  follows: 

Land  area  west  of  the  Boston  Road 150  acres. 

Land  area  east  of  the  Boston  Road 80     " 

Bronx   Lake. ........... :.. 25      " 

Lake  Agassiz .       5y2  ' ' 

Aquatic  Mammals'  Pond,  Cope  Lake  and 

Beaver  Pond . . 3V2  ' ' 

Total  area   .  .  264  acres. 


SKETCH    >IAp   SHOWING    LOCATION    OF    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK, 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

MEANS  OF  ACCESS. 

Via  the  Subway,  to  the  Boston  Road  Entrance.— The  ter- 
minus of  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Subway,  at  "180th  St., 
Bronx  Park,"  lands  visitors  at  the  southeastern  entrances 
to  the  Zoological  Park,  at  West  Farms.  Visitors  from 
points  below  96th  Street  must  be  careful  to  board  the 
"Bronx  Park"  trains,  and  not  the  "Broadway"  trains. 

Via  the  Third  Avenue  Elevated.— The  Third'  Avenue  Ele- 
vated Railway  has  been  extended  to  Bedford  Park,  and 
visitors  coming  to  the  Zoological  Park  should  alight  at  Ford- 
ham  Station,  from  which  the  northwest  entrance  is  half  a 
mile  distant,  due  eastward,  on  Pelham  Avenue,  via  the 
Union  Railway  surface  cars. 

"The  Green  Cars." — From  Fordham  and  High  Bridge, 
and  also  from  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  180th  Street, 
the  green  trolley  cars  of  the  new  Interborough  line  pass  the 
Crotona,  (southwest)  Entrance  and  run  within  one  block  of 
the  Fordham  Entrance. 

Via  the  Harlem  Railroad.— Another  way  to  reach  the  Park 
from  lower  New  York  is  to  take  the  Harlem  Railroad  from 
the  Grand  Central  Station  to  Fordham  Station  (twenty-five 
cents  for  the  round  trip),  from  whence  a  carriage  may  be 
taken  to  the  Park  at  a  fare  of  twenty-five  cents  for  each 
person.  The  running  time  between  Fordham  and  42d  Street 
is  about  twenty-five  minutes. 

Routes  for  Automobiles  or  Carriages. — Via  Central  Park, 
Lenox  Avenue,  Macomb  's  Dam  Bridge  and  Jerome  or  Wash- 
ington Avenues  to  Pelham  Avenue,  thence  eastward  to  the 
Concourse  Entrance,  where  motor  cars  are  admitted  to  the 
Park. 

ADMISSION. 

Free  Admission. — On  all  holidays,  and  on  Sunday,  Tues- 
day, Wednesday,  Friday  and  Saturday,  the  Zoological  Park 
is  open  free  to  the  public. 

Pay  Admission. — On  every  Monday  and  Thursday,  save 
when  either  of  those  days  falls  on  a  holiday,  all  members  of 
the  Zoological  Society  who  exhibit  their  membership  tickets, 
and  all  other  persons  holding  tickets  from  the  Society  will 
be  admitted  free.  All  other  persons  seeking  admission  will 
be  admitted  on  payment  of  twenty-five  cents  for  each  adult, 
and  fifteen  cents  for  each  child  under  twelve  years  of  age. 
Tickets  are  sold  only  at  the  entrance  gates. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  5 

Holidays  on  Pay  Days.— Whenever  a  legal  holiday  falls 
on  a  Monday  or  Thursday,  admission  to  the  Park  will  be 
free  on  that  day. 

Hours  for  Opening  and  Closing. — From  May  1st  to  No- 
vember 1st  the  gates  will  be  opened  at  9  A.  M.  daily,  and 
closed  half  an  hour  before  sunset.  From  November  1st  to 
May  1st  the  gates  Avill  open  at  10  A.  M. 

Entrances,  Walks,  etc.— The  portion  of  the  Zoological 
Park  situated  west  of  the  Boston  Road  has  been  enclosed. 
Access  to  this  area  is  provided  by  six  entrances,  one  situated 
at  each  corner — one  on  the  Boston  Road  and  one  at  the 
bridge  on  Pelham  Avenue.  The  latter  is  a  carriage  entrance 
for  visitors  wishing  to  drive  to  the  north  end  of  Baird 
Court.  From  all  these  entrances  broad  walks  lead  into  the 
Park  and  through  it,  reaching  all  the  collections  of  animals 
now  installed.  From  December  1,  to  April  1,  the  Bronxdalc 
Entrance,  at  the  Boston  Road  Bridge  will  be  closed. 

Carriage  Roads. — The  only  wagon  road  which  enters  the 
central  portion  of  the  Park  now  occupied  by  animals  is  the 
Service  Road,  which  enters  from  the  Southern  Boulevard, 
half-way  between  183d  and  184th  Streets,  and  runs  east- 
ward, to  the  Service  Building,  Reptile  House,  Bear  Dens, 
and  Rocking  Stone  Restaurant. 

This  road  is  for  business  purposes  only,  and  is  not  open  for 
the  vehicles  of  visitors.  It  is  utterly  impossible  to  admit 


SKETCH  MAP  SHOWING    VICINITY  OP  PAHK. 


NEW   TORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  7 

carriages  to  the  center  of  the  Park,  save  those  of  officers 
entering  on  business,  and  visitors  must  not  ask  for  exceptions 
to  this  very  necessary  rule 

A  fine  public  carriage  road  and  concourse,  leading  from 
Pelham  Avenue  Bridge  and  to  the  upper  end  of  Baird  Court, 
Avill  be  completed  in  1907.  This  will  be  open  to  carriages, 
daily,  and  it  will  give  easy  access  to  the  most  important 
group  of  buildings.  It  is  subject  to  the  same  regulations  as 
all  other  entrances,  except  that  carriages  and  automobiles 
are  admitted. 

The  Boston  Road,  which  runs  through  fcho  Park  from 
south  to  north,  near  the  western  bank  of  the  Bronx  Lake,  is 
open  at  all  hours.  It  has  recently— and  for  the  first  time — 
been  finely  improved  by  the  Park  Department  for  the  Bor- 
ough of  the  Bronx,  and  a  drive  through  it  affords  a  fine 
view  of  the  eastern  side  of  the  Buffalo  Range,  and  the  finest 
portion  of  the  heavy  forest  of  the  Zoological  Park. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  ranges  of  the  buffalo,  antelope, 
deer,  moose,  and  elk,  are  in  full  view  from  the  Kingsbridge 
Road  and  Southern  Boulevard,  and  the  Zoological  Society 
has  planned  that  the  view  from  those  avenues  shall  be  left 
open  sufficiently  that  the  herds  may  be  seen  to  good  ad- 
vantage. 

The  Rocking  Stone  Restaurant,  No.  46,  has  been  designed 
to  serve  all  the  purposes  that  its  name  implies.  It  contains 
dining-rooms  in  which  full  meals  may  be  obtained,  lunch- 
rooms wherein  choice  food  will  be  served  at  popular  prices, 
and  in  the  basement,  toilet-rooms  will  be  found. 

The  Service  Building,  No.  28.— Near  the  Reptile  House, 
and  at  the  geographical  center  of  the  enclosed  grounds,  is 
situated  a  building  which  contains  the  Bureau  of  Adminis- 
tration of  the  Zoological  Park.  Here  will  be  found  the  offices 
of  the  Director,  Chief  Clerk  and  several  other  Park  officers, 
workshops  and  storerooms. 

Children  lost  in  the  Park,  and  property  lost  or  found, 
should  be  reported  without  delay  at  the  Chief  Clerk's  office 
in  this  building.  The  telephone  call  of  the  Zoological  Park 
is  953  Tremont. 

Wheeled  Chairs.— By  persons  desiring  them,  wheeled 
chairs  can  always  be  obtained  at  the  entrances,  by  applying 
to  gatekeepers,  or  at  the  office  of  the  Chief  Clerk,  in  the 
Service  Building.  The  cost  is  25  cents  per  hour;  with  an 
attendant,  50  cents  per  hour. 

Arrangement  of  Collections.— Inasmuch  as  the  physical 
features  of  the  Zoological  Park  grounds  were  important  fac- 


8  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

tors  in  locating  the  various  collections  of  animals,  a  perfect 
zoological  arrangement  was  impossible.  The  existing  plan 
represents  the  limit  of  acceptable  possibilities  in  grouping 
related  animals. 

The  entire  southern  and  western  sides  of  the  Park  are 
exclusively  devoted  to  the  Hoofed  Animals,  in  addition  to 
which  other  members  of  that  Order  will  be  found  at  the 
Elephant ,  arid  Small-Mammal  Houses.  The  Carnivorous 
Animals.*will;  be;  found  ~at  the  Lion  House,  Wolf  and  Fox 
Densf  Small-Mammal  House  and  Bear  Dens.  The  Birds  are 
'in  two'  groups";  one  in  the  lower  end  of  Bird  Valley,  and  the 
Large  Bird  House  on  Baird  Court :  the  other  around  the 
Wild-Fowl  Pond,  south  of  the  Wolf  Dens. 

The  existence  of  six  entrances  to  the  Park  renders  it  im- 
possible to  lay  out  an  all-embracing  "tour"  for  the  visitor, 
and  develop  the  Guide  Book  accordingly.  The  various  col- 
lections will  be  handled  in  zoological  groups,  but  the  various 
groups  cannot  follow  each  other  in  zoological  sequence.  The 
table  of  contents  (pages  vii  and  viii)  and  a  comprehensive 
index  will  render  each  item  of  the  subject  matter  quickly 
available. 


PHYSICAL    ASPECT    OF    THE    GROUNDS. 

The  extreme  length  of  the  Park  from  north  to  south  is 
4-,950  feet,  or  330  feet  less  than  one  mile;  and  its  extreme 
width  is  3,120  feet,  or  three-fifths  of  a  mile.  Roughly  es- 
timated, one-third  of  the  land  area  is  covered  by  heavy 
forest,  one-third  by  open  forest,  and  the  remaining  third  con- 
sists of  open  meadows  and  glades.  The  highest  point  of 
land  in  the  Park  is  the  crest  of  Rocking  Stone  Hill,  the 
elevation  of  which  is  is  94.8  feet  above  sea  level. 

Topography.— Speaking  broadly,  the  Zoological  Park  is 
composed  of  granite  ridges  running  from  north  to  south. 
In  many  places  their  crests  have  been  denuded  of  earth  by 
the  great  glacier  which  once  pushed  its  edge  as  far  south  as 
New  York  City.  In  the  valleys  lying  between  these  glacier- 
scraped  ridges,  great  quantities  of  sandy,  micaceous  soil 
have  been  deposited ;  but  in  one  spot — the  Wild-Fowl  Pond 
— what  was  once  a  green,  glacial  lake  fifteen  feet  deep,  pres- 
ently became  a  vast  rock-walled  silo  filled  with  vegetable 
matter  and  a  trembling  bog  of  peat.  Everywhere  in  the  Park 
glacial  bowlders  of  rough  granite  or  smoothly  rounded  trap- 
rock,  varying  in  size  from  a  cobble-stone  to  the  thirty-ton 
Rocking  Stone,  have  been  dropped  just  where  the  warm 
southern  sun  freed  them  from  the  ice.  The  Park  contains 
thousands  of  them,  many  of  which  have  been  removed  from 
walks  and  building  sites  only  with  great  labor. 

In  three  of  the  four  principal  valleys  of  the  Park,  bogs 
have  been  converted  into  ponds,  and  in  the  largest  and  deep- 
est of  all  lie  Bronx  Lake  and  Lake  Agassiz.  The  bed-rock 
underlying  or  cropping  out  in  the  Park  exhibits  pink  gran- 
ite, gray  granite,  rotten  gneiss,  and  quartz  in  bewildering 
variety.  Occasionally  in  trench-digging  a  ledge  is  encount- 
ered which  yields  good  building-stone  for  rough  work,  but 
usually  our  rock  is  so  full  of  mica  as  to  be  worthless. 

The  water-levels  in  the  various  portions  of  the  Park  are 
as  follows 

Above  Sea  Level. 

Surface  of  Bronx  Lake 20.40  feet 

Surface  of  Lake  Agassiz 31.70 

Surface  of  Cope  Lake  and  Duck  Ponds.  .  47.00  ' 

Surface  of  Wild-Fowl  Pond 65.00  ' 

Surface  of  Beaver  Pond.  .  .  44.00  " 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARR.  11 

The  floor  levels  of  some  of  the  important  buildings  are  as 
follows : 

Above  Sea   Level. 

Of  the  Antelope  House 88  feet 

Of  the  Reptile  House 78  ' 

Of  the  Lion  House 64  ' 

Of  the  Aquatic  Bird  House 57  ' 

Soil. — The  soil  varies  from  rich  black  muck  in  the  valleys, 
to  light  and  very  dry  soil,  full  of  mica  and  sand,  on  the 
ridges  and  meadows.  Where  not  packed  hard,  the  latter  is 
very  porous,  and  the  heaviest  rainfall  is  quickly  absorbed, 
or  carried  away  on  the  surface.  As  a  result,  the  valleys  are 
always  moist  and  rich  in  grass,  and  the  slopes  arid  ridges 
are  always  dry  and  warm. 

Streams  and  Ponds. — The  Zoological  Park  contains  about 
34  acres  of  still  water,  of  which  Bronx  Lake  comprises  25 
acres,  Lake  Agassiz  5y2  acres,  Cope  Lake,  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond,  and  Beaver  Pond  together,  about  3%  acres.  The 
two  larger  lakes  are  fed  by  the  Bronx  River,  which  drains 
a  valley  about  15  miles  long.  Even  in  the  driest  seasons  the 
volume  of  water  carried  down  by  the  Bronx  River  is  suffi- 
cient to  keep  the  lakes  well  filled.  The  areas  of  still  water 
available  for  animal  collections  are  very  generous  for  an 
institution  like  this,  and  are  highly  prized. 

The  Waterfall. — At  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Agassiz,  and 
about  300  feet  above  the  Boston  Road  Bridge,  is  a  natural 
waterfall  nearly  12  feet  in  height,  where  the  Bronx  River 
falls  over  a  rugged  ledge  of  pink  granite.  In  times  of  high 
water  the  foaming  flood  that  thunders  over  the  rocks  makes 
an  imposing  spectacle,  and  it  constitutes  a  most  unusual 
feature  to  be  found  in  a  city  park.  During  the  year  1901, 
an  improvement  was  made  which  added  very  greatly  to  the 
beauty  of  this  feature  by  extending  the  rock  ledge  about 
200  feet  farther,  to  the  rocky  side  of  Wilson  Hill,  thereby 
greatly  increasing  the  water  area  of  Lake  Agassiz,  and  at  the 
same  time  forming  a  beautiful  island. 

Forests. — The  crowning  glory  of  the  Zoological  Park  is 
the  magnificent  forest  growth  which  covers,  thickly  or 
sparsely,  about  two-thirds  of  its  land  area.  It  consists  chiefly 
of  white,  scarlet,  black,  red  and  pin  oaks,  tulip,  sweet  gum, 
hickory,  beech,  sassafras,  maple,  wild  cherry,  hornbeam,  dog- 
wood, tupelo,  hemlock  and  cedar;  but  there  are  at  least 
thirty  other  species  of  trees  and  shrubs.  Thanks  to  the 
wise  foresight  and  broad  views  of  David  and  Philip  Lydig, 


NEW  TORE  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  13 

who  for  about  eighty  years  were  the  sole  owners  of  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  Zoological  Park  site,  the  virgin  forest  was 
not  cut  down  for  firewood  or  lumber,  but  was  carefully  pre- 
served for  posterity.  As  the  legal  custodian  of  this  splendid 
domain  of  Nature,  the  Zoological  Society  is  as  rapidly  as 
possible  going  over  the  entire  forest,  to  arrest  decay  and 
death,  and  take  all  needed  measures  for  the  preservation  of 
the  trees.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  nowhere  else  within  fifty 
miles  of  New  York  can  there  be  found  any  more  beautiful 
forests  than  those  in  the  central  and  eastern  portions  of  the 
Park,  which,  let  it  be  borne  in  mind,  are  to  be  kept  open  for 
visitors  to  wander  through  at  all  hours,  save  those  of  dark- 
ness. 

The  Rocking  Stone,  (No.  45),  a  colossal  cube  of  pinkish 
granite,  poised  on  one  of  its  angles  on  a  smooth  pedestal  of 
rock,  is  the  Zoological  Park's  most  interesting  souvenir  of 
the  glacial  epoch.  Across  the  bare  face  of  the  rocky  hill 
in  which  lies  the  Crocodile  Pool,  there  are  several  glacial 
scratches  pointing  directly  toward  the  famous  bowlder ;  and 
who  will  say  it  had  no  part  in  making  one  of  them? 

The  Rocking  Stone  stands  on  a  smooth  table  of  granite  on 
the  southern  shoulder  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  Buffalo 
Range.  Its  extreme  height  is  7  feet  6  inches;  breadth,  10 
feet  1  inch ;  thickness,  8  feet  1  inch,  and  its  weight,  as  roughly 
calculated,  is  30  tons.  A  pressure  of  about  50  Ibs.  exerted  on 
the  most  northern  angle  of  the  stone  causes  its  apex  to  swing 
north  and  south  about  two  inches. 


SECTION    I.— THE    MAMMALS. 
THE   HOOFED    ANIMALS. 

The  forming  of  a  collection  which  shall  fairly  represent 
the  hoofed  animals  of  the  world  is  necessarily  a  work  of 
years.  It  is  now  (in  1907)  eight  years  since  the  Zoological 
Society  entered  upon  this  task,  and  during  that  period  the 
work  of  providing  installations  and  living  specimens  has 
been  pursued  wth  unflagging  industry.  In  no  feature  of 
our  development  has  the  Society  been  more  liberal  than  in 
the  purchase  of  specimens  for  this  collection,  and  the  gifts 
to  it  have  been  both  numerous  and  valuable.  In  our  66 
species  and  256  specimens  we  feel  that  the  Order  Ungulata 
is  strongly  represented.  On  May  1,  1907,  the  summary  of 
groups  stood  as  follows: 

SUMMARY    OF    THE    UNGULATES. 
Deer 20  species  124  specimens 


Antelopes 16 

Wild  Sheep,  Goats,  etc 8 

Giraffes   1 

Bison,  etc 3 

Camels  and  Cameloids 5 

Wild  Equines 4 

Elephants 3 

Tapirs 1 

Rhinoceros 2 

Hippopotamus 1 

Wild  Swine..                     2 


27 


L'o 


2i 

2 

46 
12 

7 
4 

2 

3 
1 
3 


Total 66  256 

The  arrangement  of  this  section  of  the  Guide  Book  begins 
at  the  Buffalo  Entrance  with  the  Bisons,  and  follows  the 
ranges,  corrals  and  buildings  for  Hoofed  Animals,  along 
the  southern  and  western  sides  of  the  Park,  to  the  Axis  Deer 
Range.  The  Elephant  House  is  introduced  as  the  visitor 
leaves  Baird  Court,  going  south. 

The  large,  open  pastures  are  called  "ranges,"  and  the 
smaller  fenced  enclosures  are  known  as  "corrals."  The 
fences  are  chiefly  of  hard  steel  wire,  so  strong  and  elastic 
that  the  animals  cannot  break  through  them. 

u 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  15 

Warning. — Visitors  must  never  stand  close  beside  a  wire 
fence,  because  its  elasticity  between  posts  might  enable  a 
charging  animal  to  strike  a  person  so  standing  and  inflict 
a  serious  injury,  even  though  the  fence  is  not  in  the  least 
affected  by  the  blow. 


THE  BUFFALO  RANGES,  Nos.  51  and  52. 


Stretching  from  the  Boston  Road  to  the  large  Antelope 
House  (No.  50),  and  from  the  Rocking  Stone  to  the  southern 
boundary,  lies  an  open  expanse  of  rolling  meadow  land,  with 
a  total  area  of  about  twenty  acres.  It  is  almost  surrounded 
by  shade-trees.  Its  easterly  edge  is  a  low-lying  strip  of  rich 
meadow,  which  lies  under  the  shelter  of  the  rocky,  tree- 
covered  ridge  that  forms  the  natural  retaining  wall  of  the 
higher  plateau  toward  the  west.  This  is  the  Buffalo  Range. 
It  is  the  first  enclosure  seen  on  the  left  as  the  visitor  enters 
the  Park  from  West  Farms  by  way  of  the  Boston  Road. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  main  range,  near  the  Rocking 
Stone  (No.  45),  are  the  four  corrals,  and  the  Buffalo  House. 
The  latter  is  a  rustic  hillside  barn,  eighty  feet  in  length, 
with  a  semicircular  front,  affording  shelter  and  feed  stor- 
age for  twenty-five  buffaloes.  The  flat  roof  of  the  Buffalo 
House  is  open  to  the  public  from  the  main  walk,  and  has 
been  specially  designed  as  a  convenient  lookout  over  the 
main  range  and  corrals.  There  are  other  corrals,  and  a 
shelter  shed,  at  the  "Buffalo  Entrance." 

The  American  Bison,  or  Buffalo,  (B.  americanus),  is  the 
largest  and  the  best  known  of  all  North  American  hoofed 
animals.  What  was  once  the  universal  herd,  which  occu- 
pied the  whole  pasture  region  of  the  West,  was  cut  in  twain 
in  1867,  by  the  building  of  the  first  trans-continental  rail- 
way. The  great  "southern  herd,"  of  several  millions  of 
animals,  was  destroyed  by  skin  hunters  during  the  years 
1871,  1872,  1873,  and  1874,  and  the  practical  extinction  of 
the  northern  herd  was  accomplished  between  1880  and 
3884. 

At  present  there  are  but  two  herds  of  wild  buffaloes  in 
existence.  The  largest  band,  now  containing  by  estimate 
about  300  individuals,  inhabits  a  wide  stretch  of  barren 
and  inhospitable  territory  southwest  of  Great  Slave  Lake. 
About  twenty  head  remain  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  more 


16 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


AMERICAN   BISON. 

than  nine-tenths  of  the  original  herd  having  been  slaught- 
ered by  poachers  since  1890.  There  are  about  twelve  hun- 
dred buffaloes  alive  in  captivity,  chiefly  in  large  private 
game  preserves. 

Usually  buffalo  calves  are  born  in  May,  June,  and  July. 
Full  maturity  is  not  reached  until  the  end  of  the  seventh 
year,  when  the  horns  of  the  male — at  first  a  straight 
spike — have  attained  their  full  semicircular  curve.  Like 
all  thick-haired  animals  of  the  temperate  zone,  the  buffalo 
sheds  its  coat  in  spring,  and  does  not  regain  full  pelage 
until  October  or  November. 

The  buffalo  breeds  in  confinement  about  as  readily  as 
domestic  cattle.  In  appearance,  it  is  the  most  imposing  of 
all  bovine  animals,  and  with  two  exceptions  it  is  also  the 
largest.  In  captivity  its  disposition  is  mild,  though  inclined 
to  stubbornness.  Occasionally,  however,  an  old  bull  be- 
comes so  vicious  that  it  is  necessary  to  seclude  him  from 
the  herd,  and  treat  him  as  a  dangerous  animal. 

With  the  exception  of  a  very  few  individuals,  our  entire 
Buffalo  Herd  is  the  gift  of  the  late  William  C.  Whitney, 
and  the  increase  therefrom.  The  total  number  of  head  on 
hand  on  January  1,  1907,  was  thirty-eight. 

In  1906,  the  New  York  Zoological  Society  presented  to  the 


NEW   YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


17 


United  States  Government  a  herd  of  fifteen  buffaloes,  to 
serve  as  a  nucleus  for  an  independent  national  herd.  The 
Government  is  at  this  date  fencing  an  area  of  twelve  square 
miles  of  fine  grazing  grounds  in  the  Wichita  Forest  and 
Game  Reserve,  for  the  proper  reception  of  the  herd.  The 
plan  will  be  consummated  during  1907.  The  number  of 
births  in  our  Park  Buffalo  herd  has  rendered  this  gift  pos- 
sible. 

European  Bison. — In  a  corral  adjoining  the  Buffalo  En- 
trance, on  the  Boston  Road,  are  to  be  found  two  specimens 
of  the  rare  and  almost  extinct  European  Bison,  (Bos  bona- 
sus).  This  species  is  the  nearest  living  relative  of  the 
American  bison,  and  the  two  specimens  (male  and  female), 
now  exhibited,  came  quite  unexpectedly  into  the  possession 
of  the  Zoological  Society  in  April.  1904.  They  were  ac- 
quired from  the  small  captive  herd  in  the  forest  of  the 
Prince  of  Pless,  in  Silesia,  south-eastern  Germany,  and  are 
the  first  living  specimens  of  the  species  to  be  exhibited  in 
America.  They  were  presented  to  the  Society  by  Mr.  Nor- 
man James,  of  Baltimore,  Mr.  Charles  Sheldon  and  Dr. 
Leonard  J.  Sanford. 


18  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

The  distinguishing  characters  of  this  species  are  shorter 
and  less  abundant  hair  on  the  head,  neck  and  shoulders 
than  our  bison,  a  tail  densely  covered  with  hair  throughout 
its  length,  very  long  legs,  and  a  short  body. 

But  for  royal  protection,  this  species  would  long  ere  this 
have  become  extinct.  In  the  year  1857,  about  1,898  head 
were  living,  but  in  1892  the  total  had  decreased  to  491.  It 
appears,  however,  that  an  increase  can  safely  be  announced. 
An  estimate  recently  published  (1906)  places  the  total 
number  of  wild  and  semi-wild  individuals  at  1.400,  while 
in  the  captive  herds  of  the  Czar  and  the  Prince  of  Pless 
there  are  46  more.  About  700  of  the  survivors  inhabit  the 
forests  of  Bielowitza  and  Swisslotsch,  Lithuania,  west  Rus- 
sia, and  are  strictly  protected  by  the  Czar.  Other  bands 
still  exist  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  Caucasus  Mountains 
around  the  sources  of  the  Laba  and  Bjellaja,  sometimes 
ranging  up  to  an  elevation  of  8.000  feet.  Wherever  found, 
they  live  in  scattered  bands  of  from  three  to  ten  indi- 
viduals. All  the  survivors  of  this  species  are  so  jealously 
guarded  that  very  few  of  the  zoological  gardens  of  Europe 
have  been  able  to  procure  specimens. 

This  animal  is  very  often  miscalled  the  "aurochs."  and 
from  this  error  much  confusion  has  arisen.  The  true  aur- 
ochs. (Bos  primigenius},  was  the  wild  progenitor  of  some 
of  the  existing  breeds  of  domestic  cattle,  but  it  is  now 
extinct. 


MOUNTAIN  SHEEP  HILL,  No.  44. 

The  wild  sheep  and  goats  of  the  world  form  an  exceed- 
ingly interesting  group  of  animals.  In  form  they  are  odd 
and  picturesque,  and  in  temper  and  mentality  they  are 
everything  that  could  be  desired.  All  the  year  round,  deer 
are  either  nervous  or  dangerous,  and  difficult  to  handle. 
Wild  sheep,  goats  and  ibex  appreciate  man's  interest  in 
them,  and  even  when  not  fond  of  attention,  they  act  sen- 
sibly when  it  is  necessary  to  handle  them. 

The  Zoological  Park  collection  of  wild  sheep  and  goats  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  Park.  Mountain 
Sheep  Hill  is  the  first  high  ridge  west  of  the  Rocking  Stone, 
and  its  northern  end  is  very  near  the  Bear  Dens  and  Reptile 
House.  It  consists  of  a  ridge  of  pink  granite  500  feet  long 
and  25  feet  high,  its  southern  end  fully  exposed,  but  the 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  19 

northern  end  well  shaded  by  oaks  and  cedars.  For  grazing 
animals  that  love  to  climb,  and  pose  on  the  sky  line,  the 
slopes  of  bare  rock,  set  in  patches  of  hard,  green  turf,  are 
almost  ideal.  In  the  eastern  face  of  the  ridge,  rock  excava- 
tions have  been  made,  and  five  roomy  caves  have  been  con- 
structed in  such  a  manner  that  they  are  cool  in  summer, 
warm  in  winter,  and  dry  at  all  times.  On  January  1,  1907 
the  six  wire  enclosures  on  Mountain  Sheep  Hill  contained 
the  following  species: 

Suleiman  Markhor.  Persian  Wild  Goat. 

Arcal  Mountain  Sheep.  Himalayan  Tahr. 

Mouflon.  Aoudad. 

Because  of  the  curious  (and  unaccountable)  fact  that 
they  do  not  thrive  on  Mountain  Sheep  Hill,  the  Rocky 
Mountain  Goat  and  Chamois  are  exhibited  elsewhere.  The 
former  will  be  found  near  the  Pheasant  Aviary,  and  the 
latter  at  the  Small-Deer  House. 

Visitors  are  requested  to  make  note  of  the  fact  that  in 
winter,  the  Arcal  Sheep,  Mouflon,  and  other  delicate  sheep 
are  exhibited  in  the  Small-Deer  House. 

The  Musk-Ox,  (Ovibos  moschatus],  was  one  of  the  rarest 
and  most  noteworthy  animals  thus  far  acquired  by  the 
Zoological  Park.  It  was  the  first  living  specimen  of  its 
species  to  reach  civilization  in  America.  The  Society  was 
indeed  fortunate  in  securing  thus  early  in  its  history  a  fine 
specimen  of  this  very  rare  and  zoologically  interesting  spe- 
cies. It  was  exhibited  in  the  most  northerly  enclosure  of 
Mountain  Sheep  Hill,  where  it  was  placed  by  reason  of  its 
requirements,  and  not  because  the  animal  was  considered 
a  "musk-sheep."  Although  it  died  in  1902,  an  entry  for 
this  species  is  included  because  we  may  at  any  time  secure 
another  specimen. 

The  Musk-Ox  is  an  animal  of  very  strange  form,  inhabit- 
ing a  small  portion  of  the  Arctic  regions  of  the  western  hemi- 
sphere, up  to  the  very  northernmost  points  of  land  east  of  the 
Mackenzie  River.  At  Fort  Conger  (Latitude  81°,  40'), 
its  flesh  was  a  godsend  to  General  Greely,  and  later  on  to 
Commander  Peary,  also.  Structurally,  this  animal  stands 
in  a  genus  of  its  own  (Ovibos},  midway  between  the  cattle 
and  the  sheep,  but  it  is  unqualifiedly  a  misnomer  to  call  it 
a  "musk-sheep." 

An  adult  male  Musk-Ox  stands  4  ft.  5  in.  high  at  the 
shoulders,  is  6  ft.  7  in.  in  total  length,  and  weighs  "about 


20  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

1,200  pounds."  Our  first  specimen  was  a  female,  two  years 
old.  She  stood  3  ft.  2  in.  high  at  the  shoulders,  and  was 
4  ft.  10  in.  in  total  length.  Her  entire  body  was  covered 
by  a  dense  mass  of  fine  light  brown  hair,  of  a  woolly  nature, 
overlaid  by  a  thatch  of  very  long,  straight  hair  specially 
designed  to  shed  rain. 

The  Musk-Ox  inhabits  the  Barren  Grounds  of  northern 
Canada  north  of  Latitude  64°  from  Great  Bear  Lake  to 
Hudson  Bay,  Grant  Land,  and  the  northeast  coast  of  Green- 
land from  Franz  Josef  Fiord  (Latitude  70°)  to  the  most 
northerly  point  of  laud.  About  twenty  living  specimens 
have  been  taken  when  very  young  at  Franz  Josef  Fiord, 
by  Swedish  and  Norwegian  whaling  parties.  The  Peary 
Arctic  Club,  of  New  York,  presented  to  the  New  York 
Zoological  Society  a  young  calf  which  was  captured  by 
Commander  Peary  at  Fort  Conger,  in  1902,  but  it  lived 
only  a  few  months. 

The  Big-Horn  Mountain  Sheep,  (Ovis  canadensis),  is 
intermittently  exhibited  in  the  Zoological  Park,  but  in 
January,  1907,  it  chanced  to  be  absent.  The  efforts  that 
have  been  made  in  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Washington 
and  Chicago  to  acclimatize  the  Big-Horn  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  have  proven  the  extreme  difficulty  involved  in 
keeping  specimens  of  that  species  anywhere  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  or  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  changes  of  at- 
mosphere and  temperature  seem  more  violent  than  Amer- 
ican mountain  sheep  are  fitted  by  nature  to  endure,  and 
thus  far  all  specimens  tried  have  died  within  a  compara- 
tively few  months. 

In  his  own  country,  the  Rocky  Mountain  Big-Horn  is  a 
bold,  hardy  and  robust  animal.  H  j  is  high-headed,  keen- 
sighted,  and  a  sure-footed  mountaineer.  He  dwells  in  the 
wildest  and  most  picturesque  country  that  he  can  find  be- 
tween the  "bad-lands"  of  western  North  Dakota  and  the 
line  of  perpetual  snow  on  the  Rockies.  His  massive  cir- 
cling horns  render  his  head  a  much-coveted  trophy,  and  his 
flesh  is  most  excellent  food.  A  full-grown  ram  (Ovis  cana- 
densis} stands  41  inches  in  height  at  the  shoulders,  and 
weighs  316  pounds. 

This  species  ranges  from  the  northern  states  of  Mexico 
to  northern  British  Columbia  and  it  culminates  (i.  e., 
reaches  its  finest  development)  in  southeastern  British  Co- 
lumbia. A  female  specimen  from  the  last-named  region  was 
exhibited  in  the  Zoological  Park  during  1905  and  1906 : 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  21 

and  in  1902,  a  male  specimen  of  a  closely  related  species 
(Ovis  nclsoni)    was  also  here. 

As  opportunities  offer  to  procure  male  specimens  that 
have  been  kept  in  their  home  region  until  they  are  at  least 
a  year  and  a  half  old,  they  will  be  purchased  and  exhibited. 

The  Mouflon,  (Om  musimon),  or  Wild  Sheep  of  Sar- 
dinia, is  represented  by  a  fine  pair  of  specimens  presented 
by  Maurice  Egerton.  Esq.,  of  London,  and  a  young  male 
born  in  the  Park.  The  female  of  the  adult  pair  was  cap- 
tured when  a  lamb  in  the  mountains  of  Sardinia  by  Mr. 
Egerton.  The  ram  of  this  species  is  handsomely  colored, 
and  this  specimen  is  noted  for  his  friendliness,  and  his  fond- 
ness for  admiration. 

The  Arcal  Mountain  Sheep,  (Ovis  cycloceros),  is  one  of 
the  smallest  mountain  sheep  of  India  of  the  "big-horn" 
type  (with  circling  horns).  The  fully  adult  male,  with  its 
long  undermane  of  coarse,  shaggy  hair  and  proud  postures, 
is  a  very  noteworthy  creature.  This  species  inhabits  the 
mountains  of  northern  India,  Tibet,  Afghanistan,  Beluchistan 
and  southern  Persia. 

The  Burrhel,  or  Blue  Mountain  Sheep,  (Ovis  burrhel), 
also  of  northern  India,  is  of  quite  a  different  mould  from 
the  preceding  species.  Its  countenance  has  almost  a  benign 
expression,  and  its  curious  out-pointing  horns,  of  large  size 
give  it  a  most  jaunty  air.  By  some  it  is  regarded  as  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  mountain  sheep.  In  size,  however,  it 
is  not  imposing,  for  it  is  one  of  the  smallest  species.  It  is 
not  so  hardy  as  the  preceding  species,  and  there  may  be 
periods  when  there  are  no  specimens  on  exhibition. 

The  Aoudad,  or  Barbary  Wild  Sheep,  (Ovis  tragclaphus], 
comes  from  the  hot,  dry  mountains  of  northern  Africa,  and 
it  endures  the  cold,  wet  climate  of  New  York  in  a  manner 
sufficient  to  put  to  shame  our  American  mountain  sheep, 
goat  and  other  western  ruminants.  The  largest  male  Aou- 
dad of  our  herd  is  a  very  fine  specimen  of  its  kind.  He  is 
as  fond  of  admiration  as  any  peacock,  and  often  poses  in 
striking  attitudes  on  the  highest  point  of  his  rocks.  He 
was  born  here  on  March  19,  1902. 

The  Himalayan  Tahr,  (Hemitragns  jemlaicus),  is  really 
a  wild  goat,  of  very  odd  and  picturesque  aspect,  native  of 
the  higher  ranges  of  the  Himalayas  of  northern  India.  Its 
horns  are  short  and  thick,  and  its  body  is  covered  with 
long,  purplish-brown  hair  which  is  much  blown  about  by 
the  wind.  It  dwells  amongst  the  most  dangerous  crags  and 


22 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


HIMALAYAN  TAHR.  •>;••*-; 

precipices,  just  below  timber-line,  and  in  reality  is  &  forest- 
loving  animal.  Its  hair  is  the  longest  to  be  found  on  any 
member  of  the  two  subfamilies  of  goats  and  goat-like  ani- 
mals. The  pair  on  exhibition  have  bred  here,  and  the 
young  have  been  successfully  reared  to  maturity.  The 
youg  Tahr  is  very  small,  but  remarkably  nimble-footed 
and  capable. 

The  Chamois,  (Rupicapra  tragus],  has  constantly  been 
represented  in  the  hoofed-animal  collection,  but  usually  out 
of  its  proper  installation.  Our  individuals  have  not  thriven 
on  Mountain  Sheep  Hill,  always  becoming  ill  soon  alter 
being  placed  there.  They  thrive  well,  however,  in  a  small 
wire  pen  with  a  sanded  floor  quite  near  the  Puma  and  Lynx 
House  (No.  33A),  and  there  we  keep  them. 

This  animal  is  one  of  the  short-horned  goats  which,  in 
some  respects,  approaches  the  antelopes.  It  is  a  bold  moun- 
taineer, and  even  to-day  is  pictorially  represented  as  leap- 
ing "from  crag  to  crag"  across  chasms  apparently  200  feet 
wide!  Its  home  is  in  the  mountains  of  southern  Europe, 
especially  the  Pyrenees,  the  Swiss  Alps  and  the  Caucasus 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  23 


SARDINIAN    MOUFLON. 

Mountains.  But  it  is  not  so  exclusively  a  crag-dweller,  as 
most  persons  have  been  led  to  suppose,  for  in 'many  local- 
ities it  inhabits  mountain  forests.  Like  most  other  moun- 
tain ungulates,  the  Chamois  dwell  high  in  summer,  and  in 
winter  they  seek  lower  and  more  sheltered  situations.  They 
are  exceedingly  wary  and  agile,  and  sure-footed  on  danger- 
ous ground. 


THE  ANTELOPE  HOUSE,   NO.   50. 


The  Antelope  House  occupies  a  commanding  situation  on 
a  high,  tree-covered  knoll  at  the  south  end  of  the  Zoological 
Park.  The  situation  seems  as  if  specially  formed  by  Na- 
ture to  be  occupied  by  this  buJlding,  and  its  outside  en. 
closures.  The  drainage  is  quite  perfect,  and  the  yards  are 
well-shaded. 


24  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

The  building  has  been  designed  to  meet  the  wants  of 
giraffes  and  large  African  antelopes  of  all  kinds,  more 
especially  those  which  require  60°  of  heat  in  winter.  Until 
the  Elephant  House  is  completed,  the  great  pachyderms — 
elephant,  rhinoceros  and  hippopotamus — will  be  quartered 
here. 

The  Antelope  House  is  142  feet  long  by  78  feet  in  ex- 
treme width.  In  architectural  style  it  conforms  with  the 
other  large  animal  buildings  of  the  Park.  Both  for  visitors 
and  for  its  animals,  it  is  roomy  and  well  lighted,  and  in 
every  way  fitted  to  house  and  display  a  large  and  valuable 
collection  of  tropical  hoofed  animals.  It  contains  24  in- 
terior compartments,  directly  connected  with  23  open-air 
yards  for  use  in  mild  weather.  This  building  was  com- 
pleted and  occupied  on  October  17,  1903,  and  with  all  its 
surrounding  improvements  has  cost  about  $80,000. 

As  the  visitor  will  observe  from  the  following  enumera- 
tion of  species,  our  collection  of  large  and  rare  African  and 
Asiatic  antelopes  is  very  rich.  Unfortunately,  until  the 
completion  of  the  Elephant  House  and  Zebra  Houses  re- 
leases the  apartments  now  occupied  by  the  large  pachy- 
derms and  equines,  a  number  of  species  which  belong  in  the 
Antelope  House  must  temporarily  be  quartered  elsewhere. 

The  Nubian,  or  Three-Horned  Giraffes,  (Giraffa  camclo- 
pardalis),  are  at  present  the  most  important  and  interesting 
animals  in  the  building.  The  pair  came  from  German  East 
Africa,  are  now  (May,  1907)  about  seven  yaars  old,  and 
cost  $5,500.  The  male  stands  13  feet  8V2  inches  in  height. 
and  the  female  12  feet  4l/2  inches.  Both  are  good-tempered 
animals,  and  have  been  in  good  health  ever  since  their 
arrival.  Their  food  consists  of  clover-hay,  broken  forage- 
biscuits,  an  assortment  of  raw  vegetables  carefully  cut  into 
small  pieces,  a  small  quantity  of  bran,  and  rock  salt. 

A  study  of  the  Giraffes  reveals  most  interesting  con- 
ditions. According  to  the  point  of  view,  the  total  number 
of  species  and  subspecies  may  be  reckoned  at  any  number 
from  two  to  six,  inclusive.  According  to  the  specimens  in 
hand,  the  Southern,  or  Two-Horned  Giraffe,  (Giraffa  capen- 
sis),  seems  clearly  defined  from  the  Northern,  or  Three- 
Horned  Giraffe,  (G.  camelopardalis).  Next,  the  Somali  Gi- 
raffe, (G.  reticulata] ,  of  the  Lake  Rudolf  region  and  north- 
ern British  East  Africa,  seems  fairly  separable.  At  first, 
the  Five-Horned  Giraffe,  of  western  Uganda,  seemed  quite 
distinct,  but  now  British  naturalists  hesitate  about  accord- 


N?EW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


NUBIAN    GIRAFFES. 


ing  to  it  rank  as  a  separate  species,  because  of  its  inter- 
gradation  with  the  Nubian  form,    (camelopardalis). 

Judging  from  all  evidence  now  available,  it  seems  that 
the  Giraffes  of  to-day  represent  the  midway  stage  of  an 
effort  to  develop  several  species  from  the  parent  stock, 
the  Three-Horned  Giraffe,,  which  is  the  species  here  rep- 
resented. The  existing  forms,  including  all  species  and  sub- 
species, intergrade  and  run  together  in  a  manner  that  is 
fairly  bewildering;  but  if  the  Giraffes  could  remain  un- 
influenced by  man  for  a  sufficiently  long  period  the  prob- 
abilities are  that  the  species  now  branching  off  would  bo 
clearly  established. 


26  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

The  oldest,  the  best-known  and  the  most  common  Giraffe 
is  the  three-horned  species,  found  from  central  Uganda 
southward.  The  five-horned  variety  meets  the  former  in 
Uganda,  and  occurs  from  that  region  westward  to  the  edge 
of  the  great  equatorial  forest,  and  on  westward  even  to 
Lake  Tchad,  and  the  lower  Niger  Valley.  Excepting  in 
Uganda,  Kahma's  country,  and  a  few  other  protected  dis- 
tricts, the  Giraffe  is  now  rare,  particularly  throughout  the 
regions  that  are  accessible  to  hunters.  Thousands  of  these 
wonderful  creatures  have  been  killed  by  hunters,  both 
white  and  black,  solely  for  the  sake  of  seeing  them  dead, 
and  leaving  them  as  prey  to  the  hyaenas  and  hunting-dogs. 
It  seems  to  be  beyond  the  power  of  most  men  who  can 
shoot  to  see  living  wild  animals,  no  matter  how  large  or 
wonderful,  without  desiring  to  reduce  them  to  carcasses, 
fit  only  for  scavengers. 

The  Eland,  (Taurotragus  oryx),  is  the  largest  and  most 
imposing  of  all  antelopes.  As  might  be  inferred  from  its 
great  size,  it  is  now  so  nearly  extinct  that  it  has  disappeared 
from  the  lists  of  dealers  in  wild  animals.  The  fine  adult 
male  specimen  now  in  the  Antelope  House  was  obtained 
from  the  herd  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  through  Carl  Hagen- 
beck,  and  was  presented  to  the  Zoological  Society  by  Mr. 
George  F.  Baker.  The  female  is  the  gift  of  Mr.  C.  Ledyard 
Blair. 

Of  Elands  there  are  two  well-marked  species.  That  of 
eastern  and  southern  Africa,  here  represented,  was  once 
numerous  on  many  of  the  fertile  plains  of  the  great  plateau 
now  kno\vn  as  Rhodesia,  and  in  fact  throughout  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  uplands  of  eastern  Africa,  from  the  Cape  to 
the  Sahara.  Unfortunately,  however,  white  hunters  and 
modern  firearms  have  reduced  the  countless  thousands  of 
the  great  herds  to  numbers  so  small  that  the  capture  and 
exportation  of  Elands  have  practically  ceased. 

Although  a  number  of  Elands  have  been  born  in  cap- 
tivity, the  number  on  public  exhibition  still  remain  very 
small.  The  only  captive  herd  known  to  the  writer  is  that 
of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  in  Woburn  Park,  England,  which 
is  at  once  the  admiration  and  envy  of  all  collectors  of  living 
wild  animals. 

The  White-Tailed  Gnu,  (Connochaetes  gnu),  once  was 
abundant  in  South  Africa,  south  of  the  Vaal  River.  But  it 
has  shared  the  fate  of  all  the  other  large  mammals  of  that 
region,  and  only  a  few  scattered  bands  still  exist.  Nearly 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


27 


WHITE-TAILED  GNU. 

all  of  the  specimens  now  living  in  captivity  were  born  in 
captivity,  for  both  species  of  Gnu  take  kindly  to  life  in 
parks  and  gardens. 

Every  way  considered,  the  Gnu  is  an  animal  of  odd  and 
remarkable  form.  It  has  the  most  wonderful  nose  to  be 
found  among  the  Antelopes,  its  horns  are  curiously  formed, 
the  hair  on  its  head  and  neck  exhibits  various  peculiarities, 
and  its  hips  are  oddly  modeled.  Its  long,  flowing  tail  is  so 
horse-like  that  for  many  years  this  animal  was  pictured  and 
popularly  known  as  the  "Horned  Horse." 

The  White-Bearded  Gnu,  (Connochaetes  albojubatus),  is 
noticeably  larger  than  the  white-tailed  species,  and  in  some 
respects  it  presents  a  finer  appearance.  Its  bulk  is  con- 
siderably greater,  and  its  color  is  more  pleasing.  This  spe- 
cies bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  third  species,  which 
is  known  as  the  Brindled  or  Blue  Gnu,  (Connochaetes  tau- 
rinus),  from  which  the  former  is  distinguished  by  its  white 
mane  and  jaw-tufts,  and  generally  paler  color,  At  wide 


28  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

intervals  the  White-Bearded  species  inhabits  southern  East 
Africa,  from  about  S.  Lat.  23°,  to  the  Albert  Nyanza  and 
Lake  Kudolph,  but  chiefly  near  the  coast.  In  only  one 
locality  do  we  learn  of  its  occurrence  west  of  the  30th  me- 
ridian. To-day  it  is  most  numerous  in  German  East  Africa 
and  the  southern  portions  of  Uganda. 

The  Addax  Antelope,  (Addax  naso-maculatus),  is  a  spiral- 
horned  antelope  which  inhabits  the  southern  edge  of  the 
Sahara  Desert  from  Dongola  quite  across  Africa  to  Senegal. 
Its  extremely  broad  and  spreading  hoofs  betoken  a  dweller 
upon  sand,  and  are  strongly  suggestive  of  the  snow-shoe 
hoofs  of  the  caribou.  It  is  said  that  this  animal  is  not  to 
be  taken  without  making  a  journey  into  the  desert,  with 
camels. 

The  Leucoryx  Antelope,  (Oryx  lencoryx),  is  the  only 
member  of  its  genus  which  has  curved  horns.  Because  of  the 
length  and  very  slight  curvature  of  the  horns,  this  species 
has  by  some  writers  been  spoken  of  as  the  Sabre  Antelope, 
and  by  a  mischievous  perversion  that  name  has  been  turned 
into  "Sable"  Antelope,  which  refers  to  a  totally  different 
creature,  (Hippotrag'u's  nigcr}.  Anyone  who  places  an  order 
for  the  purchase  of  a  real  Sable  Antelope,  and  receives  a 
Leucoryx  instead  of  Hippotragus  niger,  is  profoundly  dis- 
appointed. 

This  species  is  a  desert  habitant,  and  its  home  is  the  desert 
region  of  North  Africa  from  Dongola  to  the  Senegal  coun- 
try. It  is  breeding  regularly  here,  and  the  offspring  mature 
successfully.  The  largest  Leucoryx  horns  on  record  meas- 
ure 39%  inches. 

The  Beisa  Antelope,  (Oryx  beisa),  is  a  good  representative 
of  the  group  of  straight-horned  antelopes  found  in  the  genus 
Oryx.  Of  all  the  long-horned  species,  the  two  Beisas  and 
the  Gemsbok  of  Africa,  and  the  Beatrix  of  Arabia,  are  the 
only  species  possessed  of  horns  that  are  practically  straight 
from  base  to  tip.  The  Gemsbok  is  the  largest  and  most 
showy  species,  being  painted  like  a  harlequin,  m  a  startling 
pattern  of  roan,  black  and  white.  The  Beisa  is  a  good 
second,  however.  The  horns  of  all  these  antelopes  grow 
to  great  length,  and  are  excellent  weapons  for  use  in 
encounters  with  the  smaller  game-killing  carnivores.  The 
longest  horns  of  record  measure  40  inches. 

The  Beisa  inhabits  eastern  Central  Africa,  from  Suakin 
on  the  Red  Sea  southward  to  the  Equator. 

The  Beatrix  Antelope,   (Oryx  beatrix),  of  the  Arabian 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  29 

Desert,  is  one  of  the  rarest  antelopes  to  be  found  in  cap- 
tivity, and  at  thds  date  this  interesting  species  is  represented 
by  a  fine  pair  of  specimens.  The  longest  horns  of  record 
measure  26  inches.  Very  few  sportsmen  have  seen  this 
animal  in  its  native  haunts. 

Baker's  Roan  Antelope,  (Hippotragns  equinus  bakeri],  is 
sometimes  called  Baker's  Horse  Antelope,  but  the  latter  is  a 
poor  designation  for  this  fine,  high-spirited  animal.  It  be- 
longs to  the  same  genus  as  the  very  handsome  and  high- 
headed  sable  antelope  mentioned  above,  but,  as  its  best  name 
implies,  it  is  a  tawny-brown  animal.  Its  ears  are  so  very 
long  and  pointed,  and  patterned  in  such  artistic  curves  that 
they  serve  the  excellent  purpose  of  fixing  the  species  in 
the  rnind  of  everyone  who  sees  it.  The  subspecies  here 
shown  is  found  in  German  East  Africa,  but  its  precise  range 
is  at  present  unknown. 

The  Sing-Sing  Waterbuck,  (Cobus  unctuosus),  is  a  crea- 
ture of  the  lowlands,  and  frequents  the  dense  tangles  of  tall 
reeds  that  border  many  of  the  rivers  of  West  Africa,  above 
the  great  equatorial  forest.  In  captivity  it  sometimes  is 
one  of  the  most  insanely  nervous  and  irrational  creatures 
imaginable,  ever  seeking  self-inflicted  injuries. 

The  Blessbok,  (Damaliscus  albifrons},  is  a  small  but  hand- 
some purple-and-white  antelope  which  is  now  very  nearly 
extinct.  Formerly  a  number  of  herds  were  preserved  on 
fenced  farms  in  the  Transvaal  and  Orange  Free  State,  but 
it  is  feared  that  none  of  them  survived  the  Boer  war.  This 
species  never  lived  north  of  the  Limpopo,  but  south  of  that 
river  it  once  was  so  numerous  that  a  truthful  traveler 
described  a  vast  plain  as  being  ''purple  with  Blessbok." 

The  Nilgai,  (Portax  tragocamelus) ,  is  the  largest  of  the 
Indian  antelopes,  and  while  it  has  the  stature  and  the  high 
shoulders  of  a  Baker's  roan  antelope,  its  absurdly  small 
horns  give  it,  beside  the  large  antelopes  of  Africa,  a  very 
commonplace  and  unfinished  appearance.  The  males  and 
females  are  as  differently  colored  as  if  they  belonged  to 
different  species.  This  animal  inhabits  the  roughest  por- 
tions of  the  central  plains  of  Hindustan,  from  Mysore  to 
the  Himalayas.  In  northern  India  it  is  found  along  the 
rivers  Jumna  and  Ganges,  in  rugged  and  barren  tracts  of 
ravines  which  in  character  and  origin  resemble  our  western 
"bad-lands." 

The  small  antelopes  will  be  found  in  the  Small-Deer 
House,  the  next  building  in  order. 


THE  SMALL-DEER  HOUSE,  No.  49. 


In  captivity  the  small  and  delicate  species  of  deer,  an- 
telopes and  gazelles  are  better  cared  for  in  enclosures  that 
are  not  too  large.  For  such  creatures,  freedom  in  a  large 
enclosure  usually  means  early  death  from  accident  or  ex- 
posure. 

The  very  important  building  called  the  Small-Deer  House 
has  been  erected  with  special  reference  to  the  wants  of  the 
interesting  little  hoofed  animals  which  are  too  small  for  the 
Antelope  House  and  the  large  ranges.  In  winter  it  will 
shelter  the  small  tropical  mountain  sheep  and  goats,  which 
are  unable  to  withstand  the  rigors  of  outdoor  life  on  Moun- 
tain Sheep  Hill,  and  the  tropical  swine  may  also  be  expected 
here. 

The  Small-Deer  House  is  situated  in  close  proximity  to 
the  Antelope  House,  and  westward  thereof.  Of  the  build- 
ings of  secondary  rank,  it  is  one  of  the  most  satisfactory, 
being  roomy,  well-lighted  and  capable  of  comfortably  hous- 
ing and  displaying  a  large  and  varied  collection.  The  struc- 
ture is  158  feet  in  length  by  46  feet  in  width.  It  contains 
thirty  compartments,  each  of  which,  under  stress  of  ne- 
cessity, can  be  partitioned,  and  formed  into  two.  The  in- 
terior compartments  are  each  10  feet  wide  by  10  feet  deep. 
The  building  is  surrounded  by  a  series  of  34  corrals,  con- 
necting with  the  interior  compartments,  the  average  size  of 
each  being  75  feet  long  by  20  feet  wide  at  the  outer  end. 
All  the  fences  are  of  wire,  and  were  specially  designed  in 
the  Park  for  this  installation. 

It  is  a  practical  impossibility  to  offer  an  enumeration  of 
the  living  animals  in  this  building  which  will  permanently 
apply,  and  the  best  that  can  be  attempted  is  an  approxima- 
tion. It  is  an  inexorable  law  of  Nature  that  the  smallest 
animals  shall  have  the  shortest  periods  of  life,  and  in  a 
zoological  park  a  small  hoofed  animal  may  be  here  to-day 
and  gone  to-morrow.  In  the  following  enumeration,  men- 
tion will  be  made  only  of  those  species  which  are  likely  to 
remain  longest  on  exhibition;  and  it  may  be  observed  that 
in  this  building  there  will  be  found  various  animals  which 
are  neither  deer  nor  antelopes. 

30 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  31 

THE  SMALL  DEER. 

Osceola's  White-Tailed  Deer,  (Odocoileus  virginianus  os- 
ceola),  is  an  interesting  geographic  race  of  the  northern 
White-Tailed  Deer  which  forms  the  parent  stem  of  a  group 
of  six  or  seven  subspecies.  The  robust  and  hardy  northern 
type,  often  with  large  and  strong  antlers,  gradually  dimin- 
ishes in  si/e  and  in  antlers,  until  in  Mexico  it  becomes  a 
small  and  delicate  creature,  with  very  small  and  light  antlers 
bearing  only  two  or  three  small  tines.  The  next  form  has  so 
widely  diverged  from  the  original  type  that  it  is  necessary 
to  accord  it  rank  as  a  full  species. 

The  Sinaloa  White-Tailed  Deer,  (Odocoileus  sinaloae),  is 
still  smaller  and  weaker  than  the  preceding.  The  pair  of 
specimens  shown  were  obtained  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  William 
Beebe,  in  the  State  of  Guadalajara,  Mexico,  and  are  highly 
interesting  as  a  link  near  the  lower  terminus  of  the  Odocoi- 
leus chain.  On  a  majority  of  the  antlers  of  this  species 
there  are  no  branches  whatever,  but  simply  a  weak  main 
beam,  curving  over  at  the  tip,  and  terminating  in  a  rounded 
point. 

It  should  be  noted  here  that  the  White-Tailed  Deer  group, 
(Odocoileus),  is  very  well  represented  in  South  America  by 
0.  zveigmanni  of  the  Guianas. 

The  Marsh  Deer,  (Blastoceros  paludosus),  of  eastern 
South  America,  is  the  largest  South  American  deer.  Our 
first  specimen  was  obtained  in  1904.  Its  antlers  are  strong- 
ly built  but  short,  and  in  architecture  resemble  the  antlers 
of  a  Siamese  species  known  as  Schornburgk 's  Deer  (Cervus 
schomburgki)  ;  but  the  latter  has  on  each  beam  three  double 
bifurcations,  while  the  former  has  but  two.  The  Marsh 
Deer  has  very  large,  wide-spreading  hoofs,  which  it  would 
seem  have  been  developed  by  many  generations  of  existence 
on  soft  ground.  It  inhabits  the  jungles  along  river  banks, 
in  Brazil.  The  head  of  this  animal  is  of  remarkable  length. 

This  important  species  is  rather  weak  in  captivity,  and  it 
is  by  no  means  certain  that  it  can  constantly  be  exhibited 
here.  There  is  another  South  American  species,  (Blastoceros 
campestris),  which  is  a  zoological  understudy,  or  miniature, 
of  the  large  Marsh  Deer. 

The  Black-Faced  Brocket,  (Masama  tema),  whenever  it 
can  be  obtained,  will  represent  a  group  of  American  deer 
which  is  as  little  known  in  the  United  States  as  if  it  in- 
habited the  heart  of  Borneo.  The  Brockets  are  smaller 


32  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

than  the  Sinaloa  white-tailed  deer,  and  they  are  so  nearly 
hornless  that  the  antler  is  merely  a  small,  straight,  sharp- 
pointed  spike  of  bone  only  three  inches  long.  The  adult 
animal  is  only  25  inches  in  shoulder  height,  which  is  about 
the  size  of  the  muntjac  of  India.  Of  the  Brockets  there  are 
several  species,  mostly  South  American,  but  from  skulls  and 
horns  received  we  now  know  that  it  is  found  as  far  north 
as  the  State  of  Puebla,  Mexico.  A  correspondent  in  that 
locality  is  constantly  endeavoring  to  secure  specimens  for 
us,  and  no  doubt  will  shortly  succeed.  For  the  reason  that 
we  expect  specimens  in  the  near  future,  this  species  is  in- 
cluded. 

The  Hog  Deer,  (Cervus  porcimis],  which  is  very  unlike  a 
hog,  and  is  libeled  by  its  name,  is  a  small  species  from  India, 
which  is  provided  with  long  and  well-shaped  antlers  having 
a  total  of  six  points.  Sometimes  the  adult  males  are  spot- 
ted in  summer,  and  sometimes  they  are  not.  This  species 
stands  next  to  the  beautiful  axis  deer.  It  breeds  well  in 
captivity,  but  is  a  very  nervous  and  even  hysterical  animal. 

The  Molucca  Deer,  (Cervus  inoluccensis),  is  a  thick- 
bodied,  scantily-clad  and  coarse-haired  understudy  of  the 
Malay  sambar,  (Cervus  iinicolor}.  Of  all  deer  it  is  one  of 
the  least  beautiful.  Its  hair  resembles  the  bristles  of  a  wild 
hog,  and  its  color  is  a  dull,  raw-umber  brown.  It  belongs 
to  the  Sambar  group  of  East  Indian  deer,  and  really  marks, 
both  geographically  and  in  size,  the  farthest  departure 
from  the  type  species  of  the  group. 

The  Muntjac  or  Rib-Faced  Deer,  (Cervus  muntjac),  is  one 
of  the  most  interesting  of  all  species  of  small  deer.  In  one 
respect  it  is  unique.  Its  tiny  antlers,  which  are  only  4^/2 
inches  in  length,  are  placed  high  up  on  stems  of  solid  bone, 
which  sometimes  rise  3^4  inches  clear  of  the  cranium. 
These  pedicels  of  bone  are  covered  with  skin,  quite  up  to 
the  burr  of  the  antler.  The  front  angles  of  this  pedicel  are 
continued  down  the  face  to  the  nasal  bones,  and  form  the 
two  sharply  defined  facial  ridges  which  have  given  this 
creature  one  of  its  popular  names. 

In  India  the  Muntjac  inhabits  the  jungles  of  the  tiger, 
the  leopard,  axis  deer  and  sloth  bear,  and  escapes  from  its 
numerous  enemies  by  hiding  behind  logs,  and  scurrying 
through  the  thick  underbrush  so  swiftly  that  its  pursuers  can 
not  keep  it  in  view.  Its  flesh  is  most  excellent  food.  From 
its  peculiar,  yapping  cry,  many  times  repeated,  it  is  cften 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  33 

called  the  Barking  Deer.  It  breeds  readily  in  captivity,  and 
its  bright  fawn  color  attracts  to  it  much  attention. 

The  Musk  Deer,  (Moschus  moschiferns),  of  northern  In- 
dia, Tibet  and  Southern  China  is  the  creature  which  pro- 
duces the  well-known  musk  perfume  of  commerce.  The 
product  is  secreted  by  the  male  in  the  "rutting"  season. 
This  species  is  one  of  the  smallest  of  the  true  deer.  Its 
most  remarkable  anatomical  feature  is  a  pair  of  very  long 
and  sharp  canine  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  the  points  of  which 
project  far  below  the  lower  jaw.  No  horns  are  present  in 
this  animal.  Being  short-lived  in  captivity,  and  also  diffi- 
cult to  obtain,  it  must  be  classed  as  an  intermittent  exhibit. 

The  Mouse  Deer,  or  Malay  Chevrotain,  (Tragulus  java- 
nicus),  the  smallest  of  all  deer-like  animals,  a  tiny  creature 
no  heavier  than  a  rabbit,  will  be  exhibited  in  the  Small- 
Deer  House  as  often  and  as  long  as  circumstances  will  per- 
mit. It  is  so  delicate  and  so  short-lived  in  captivity  that 
comparatively  few  specimens  have  lived  to  reach  America. 
Its  home  is  the  hot.  moist  and  densely-tangled  jungles  of 
the  equatorial  regions  of  the  Far  East,  particularly  Borneo, 
Sumatra  and  the  Malay  Peninsula,  where  it  is  fairly  abun- 
dant. Many  are  snared  by  the  natives,  for  food. 

The  Mouse  Deer  is  only  10  inches  in  height  at  the  should- 
ers, and  has  no  horns — which  is  a  great  pity.  But  it  has  a 
pair  of  long  canine  teeth  in  its  upper  jaw,  the  same  as  the 
musk  deer.  The  Mouse  Deer  does  not  belong  to  the  family 
of  true  deer  (Cervidae),  and  the  various  species  constitute  an 
independent  family  called  Tragulidae. 

THE    SMALL   AFRICAN    ANTELOPES. 

In  addition  to  the  grand  array  of  large  antelopes  inhabit- 
ing Africa,  of  which  many  fine  examples  will  be  found  in 
the  Antelope  House,  there  is  an  extensive  series  of  small 
species.  Indeed,  the  richness  of  Africa  in  antelopes,  great 
and  small,  is  almost  beyond  belief.  The  species  of  Asia  and 
Europe  are  so  few,  and  so  inconspicuous,  that  they  seem  like 
so  many  estray  wanderers  from  the  Dark  Continent.  The 
fertile,  grassy  plains  of  the  great  Central  African  plateau 
have  cradled  scores  of  species,  some  of  which  have  wandered 
into  the  deserts,  the  forests  and  the  fluviatile  swamps,  and 
there  made  their  permanent  homes. 

The  Black-Buck,  or  Sasin  Antelope,  (Antilope  cervicapra), 
of  the  central  plains  of  Hindustan,  is  one  of  the_  handsomest, 


34  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE.  i 

of  the  smaller  antelopes.  The  horns  of  the  male  are  long, 
strongly  ringed,  twisted  spirally,  and  rise  from  the  head  in 
the  shape  of  a  V,  sometimes  to  a  length  of  28  inches.  At 
first  the  young  males  are  fawn-colored,  like  the  females,  but 
as  they  grow  older  they  steadily  grow  darker,  until  finally 
the  whole  upper  body  and  lower  neck  are  suffused  with  a 
rich,  brown-black  color.  On  the  plains  between  the  rivers 
Ganges  and  Jumna,  herds  of  Black-Buck  live  in  densely  pop- 
ulated agricultural  regions,  and  one  of  the  greatest  difficul- 
ties attendant  upon  its  pursuit  lies  in  shooting  an  animal 
without  also  shooting  the  native. 

The  Reedbuck,  (Cervicapra  armidinnin),  of  South  Africa, 
below  Angola  and  Mozambique,  is  closely  related  to  the 
larger  and  much  more  showy  Waterbneks,  but  is  distin- 
guished from  them  by  the  pronounced  forward  curve  of  its 
horns.  In  the  western  districts  of  Cape  Colony,  the  number 
alive,  in  1905.  was  estimated  at  350  individuals. 

The  Common  Duiker  Antelope,  (Cephalophus  grimmi),  or 
for  that  matter,  any  species  of  Duiker — may  be  regarded 
as  the  representative  of  a  large  group  of  very  small  African 
antelopes,  of  wide  distribution.  There  are  about  twenty 
species  in  all,  and  the  great  majority  of  them  are  very 
modestly  colored,  in  coats  of  one  or  two  colors  only.  The 
prevailing  tints  are  grayish  brown  and  tawny  red.  The 
horns  of  the  various  species  of  Duikers  are  all  very  much 
alike.  With  but  one  or  two  exceptions,  their  horns  are 
straight  spikes  from  3  to  5  inches  in  length.  In  shoulder 
height  the  Duikers  vary  from  14  to  30  inches,  but  the  major- 
ity are  between  17  and  22  inches.  Only  three  or  four  species 
are  strikingly  colored. 

The  Four-Horned  Antelope,  (Tctraccros  qnadricornis),  is 
a  small  creature  which  looks  like  a  duiker,  but  is  very  far 
from  belonging  to  that  genus.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the 
brushy  plains  of  India,  and  enjoys  the  unique  distinction  of 
possessing  two  pairs  of  horns.  In  addition  to  the  4-inch 
pair,  normally  placed,  it  has  a  much  smaller  pair,  usually 
only  1  inch  in  height,  which  rises  from  the  central  area  of 
the  fore-head.  I  believe  it  is  the  only  species  of  antelope 
which  possesses  two  pairs  of  horns. 

The  Springbuck,  (Antidorcas  cuchore),  is  to  South  Africa 
as  the  "prong-horn"  is  to  our  great  western  plains.  Once, 
both  were  abundant,  and  the  first  hoofed  animal  to  greet  the 
traveller  who  entered  their  respective  domains.  To-day, 
both  species  are  so  nearly  extinct  that  the  hunter  must 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  35 

search  long  before  finding  even  one.  The  Springbuck  re- 
ceived its  name  in  recognition  of  its  remarkable  habit  of 
leaping  high  into  the  air  when  running — a  habit  which  also 
is  displayed  by  the  black-buck  of  India. 

The  Gazelles  are  found  only  in  Asia  and  Africa,  and  the 
number  of  species  is  about  25.  In  general  terms  they  may 
be  described  as  dainty  antelopes, — so  slender  and  delicate  in 
leg  construction  that  it  seems  strange  that  such  slender 
bones  can  support  a  tall  animal  without  breaking. 

The  Dorcas  Gazelle,  of  Arabia,  (Gazella  dorcas),  is  the 
species  which  most  frequently  finds  its  way  into  captivity, 
and  it  will  serve  very  well  as  a  specimen  species  for  the 
whole  group.  Despite  its  delicate  and  frail  appearance,  it 
is  much  more  enduring  in  captivity  than  many  animals 
which  seem  far  more  robust.  A  pair  which  entered  the  Park 
in  1900  is  still  living.  The  male  has  a  temper  which  quite 
belies  the  reputation  of  the  "gentle  Gazelle."  Although 
loyal  and  kind  to  his  cage-mate,  toward  human  beings  gen- 
erally he  has  manifested  a  very  savage  disposition,  and  in 
one  of  his  fits  of  bad  temper  he  broke  off  one  of  his  own 
horns. 

The  Indian  Gazelle,  (Gazella  benneti},— frequently  called 
in  its  home  country  Ravine  "Deer." — is  a  habitant  of  the 
sterile,  \vater-washed  ravines  of  northern  and  central  India, 
which  are  the  oriental  counterpart  of  our  western  "bad- 
lands." This  animal  inhabits  the  same  regions  as  the  black- 
buck,  but  because  of  the  religious  scruples  of  the  Hindoos 
against  the  taking  of  life,  both  species  are  secure  from  at- 
tack— until  the  arrival  among  them  of  the  white  sahibs.  A 
full-grown  Indian  Gazelle  is  26  inches  in  shoulder  height. 
The  females  of  this  species  possess  horns,  which  are  very 
slender,  and  vary  in  length  from  4  to  S1A  inches. 


MISCELLANEOUS  MAMMALS. 


The  Small-Deer  House  will  at  all  times  contain  various 
mammals  which  are  there  shown  because  it  is  a  practical 
impossibility  to  provide  a  separate  building  for  each  group. 
Among  them  will  be  found, 

The  Kangaroos, — Seldom  is  there  found  in  Nature  a  group 
of  large-animal  species  whose  members  are  so  monotonously 
similar  in  general  appearance  as  are  the  Kangaroos  and 


36  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

Wallabies,  of  Australia.  The  great  majority  are  either  gray 
or  gray-brown,  and  the  only  striking  variation  is  found  in 
the  big  Red  Kangaroo,  (Macropns  rufus}. 


THE  WHITE  MOUNTAIN  GOAT,  No.  48. 


Fortunate  indeed  is  the  zoological  park  or  garden  which 
can  exhibit  even  one  living  specimen  of  the  White  Moun 
tain  Goat.  It  is  a  very  difficult  matter  to  take  an  animal 
from  a  rarified  dry  atmosphere,  at  an  elevation  of  8,000 
feet,  and  induce  it  to  live  at  sea  level,  in  a  dense  and  humid 
atmosphere,  on  food  to  which  it  is  by  nature  wholly  uu 
accustomed.  Although  no  one  can  say  how  long  they  will 
survive,  at  this  date  (May  1,  1907)  the  Zoological  Park  has 
on  exhibition  five  fine  healthy  specimens,  two  years  old,  of 
Oreamnos  montanus, —  one  of  the  most  unique  and  pic- 
turesque species  of  all  North  American  hoofed  animals. 

For  some  subtle  reason  which  we  can  not  explain,  these 
animals— like  the  chamois  and  mouflon  quartered  in  small 
pens  near  the  Small-Mammals  House— do  not  thrive  in  any 
of  the  large,  rock-bound  corrals  of  Mountain  Sheep  Hill. 
They  are  kept  in  a  rock-paved  corral  near  the  Pheasant 
Aviary  and  the  Crotona  Entrance,  and  to  their  use  has  been 
devoted  a  rustic  barn,  which  they  shelter  in  or  climb  over, 
according  to  the  weather.  To  see  them  walking  nonchalant- 
ly over  the  steep  roof,  or  perching  upon  its  peak,  is  one  of 
the  drollest  sights  of  the  Park. 

The  White  Goat,  sometimes  mistakenly  called  "antelope," 
or  "goat  antelope,"  inhabits  many  different  kinds  of  ter- 
ritory, but  usually  the  rugged  sides  and  summits  of  high 
mountains,  at  irregular  intervals  from  southwestern  Mon- 
tana and  northern  Washington,  northward  to  the  head  of 
Cook  Inlet  on  the  coast  of  Alaska.  (See  map  of  distribution, 
with  label.)  The  valley  of  the  upper  Yukon  contains  prac- 
tically no  goats.  They  are  most  abundant  in  southeastern 
British  Columbia,  where  in  a  very  small  area,  in  September. 
1905,  Mr.  John  M.  Phillips  and  the  writer  actually  counted 
239  individuals. 

The  animals  now  exhibited  in  the  Park  were  captured  a 
few  days  after  their  birth,  in  May,  1905,  about  seventy  miles 
north  of  Fort  Steele,  on  a  tributary  of  the  Bull  River.  They 
arrived  here  October  9,  1905,  and  up  to  this  date  they  have 


Mi\V    1'UiiK  ZOOLOGICAL  PAIiK. 


WHITE   MOUNTAIN    GOATS. 

thriven  as  well,  and  grown  as  rapidly,  as  they  would  have 
in  a  state  of  nature.  Their  food  consists  of  the  best  clover 
hay  obtainable,  and  crushed  oats.  When  they  shed  their 
coats,  in  the  spring,  they  are  almost  as  white  as  snow,  but 
with  months  of  use,  their  pelage  becomes  soiled  and  slightly 
discolored. 

A  fully  adult  male  mountain  goat  stands  from  39  to  41 
inches  in  shoulder  height,  and  weighs,  on  scales,  from  258  tc 
300  pounds.  Besides  this  flock,  there  is  at  this  date  only 
one  other  specimen  living  in  a  zoological  garden. 


THE  PRONG-HORNED  ANTELOPE. 


The  Prong-Horned  Antelope,  (Antilocapra  americana),  is 
an  animal  in  which  Americans  should  now  take  special  in- 
terest. Beyond  all  possibility  of  doubt,  it  will  be  our  next 
large  species  to  become  extinct,  and  if  we  may  judge  by  the 
rate  at  which  the  bands  have  been  disappearing  during  the 
last  fifteen  years,  ten  years  more  will,  in  all  probability,  wit- 


38  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

ness  the  extermination  of  the  last  individuals  now  struggling 
to  exist  outside  of  rigidly  protected  areas.  It  was  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Society  to  make  liberal  provision  for  the  study  of 
the  species  while  it  is  yet  possible  to  obtain  living  specimens, 
for  fifty  years  hence  our  graceful  and  zoologically  interest- 
ing prong-horn  will  be  as  extinct  as  the  dodo.  Unfortu- 
nately, however,  it  fares  so  badly  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
there  will,  no  doubt,  be  periods  wherein  this  species  will  be 
temporarily  absent  from  the  Park. 

Forty  years  ago  this  animal  inhabited  practically  the 
whole  of  the  great  pasture  region  which  stretches  eastward 
from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  western  borders  of  Iowa 
and  Missouri.  Northward  its  range  extended  far  into  Mani- 
toba ;  southward  it  went  far  beyond  the  Rio  Grande,  and  it 
also  ranged  south  west  ward  through  Colorado  and  Nevada 
to  southern  California.  Its  chosen  home  was  the  treeless 
plains,  where  the  rich  buffalo  grass  and  bunch  grass 
afforded  abundant  food,  but  it  also  frequented  the  beau- 
tiful mountain  parks  of  Wyoming  and  Colorado.  It  even 
lived  contentedly  in  the  deserts  of  the  southwest,  where  its 
voluntary  presence,  coupled  with  the  absence  of  water,  con- 
stituted a  conundrum  which  has  puzzled  the  brain  of  many 
a  desert  traveller. 

Although  the  Prong-Horn  is  keen-sighted,  wary,  and  at  all 
times  an  exceptionally  timid  and  nervous  animal,  it  is  no 
match  for  man  and  long-range  rifles.  It:;  skin  is  of  no  value 
but  its  flesh  is  delicious  at  all  times,  even  in  midsummer, 
when  most  other  wild  meat  is  out  of  flavor.  The  general 
settlement  of  the  great  pasture  region  sealed  the  doom  of 
all  the  large  game  animals  which  once  stocked  it  abundant- 
ly. Whenever  a  cowboy  wanted  an  extra  choice  roast,  or 
range-riding  became  too  monotonous  for  him  to  endure,  he 
killed  an  antelope.  Whenever  an  eastern  tenderfoot  wanted 
to  "shoot  something,"  he  was  taken  out  on  the  range  and 
turned  loose,  to  hunt  antelope.  The  difficulty  involved  was 
only  barely  sufficient  to  insure  a  proper  degree  of  interest 
and  excitement.  Almost  any  man  with  a  modern  rifle  can 
kill  an  antelope. 

To-day,  all  observers  agree  that  in  all  regions  wherein  the 
antelope  are  not  rigidly  protected,  they  are  going  fast. 
Those  in  the  Yellowstone  Park  are  protected  against  man 
only  to  be  devoured  by  the  wolves  which  infest  the  Park. 
Coyotes  have  been  seen  to  run  down  and  kill  antelope  within 
sight  of  the  town  of  Gardiner.  So  far  as  can  be  ascertained, 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL   PARK.  39 

Colorado  is  the  only  state  which  really  is  protecting  its  ante- 
lope, and  because  of  this  fact  the  last  prong-horn  will  die  in 
that  state.  Professor  Osborn  reports  that  in  July  and  Aug- 
ust, 1899,  he  saw  hundreds  of  antelope  in  Garh'eld  Count}'. 
In  1898,  Mr.  Carl  Rungius,  the  animal  painter,  reported  an 
abundance  of  them  in  Uintah  County,  Wyoming,  but  later 
he  saw  with  astonishment  and  dismay  that  the  herds  had 
disappeared  as  if  the  earth  had  opened  and  engulfed  them 
all. 

For  a  century  the  Prong-Horn  has  been,  next  to  the  buf- 
falo, the  chief  object  of  interest  on  our  western  plains. 
Their  graceful  forms  and  fleet  movements  have  for  long  re- 
lieved the  landscapes  of  the  treeless  country  from  utter 
barrenness,  from  the  lifelessness  which  to  every  overland 
traveller  presently  becomes  unbearably  monotonous.  It  is 
not  pleasant  to  think  of  the  thousands  of  square  miles  of 
"divides,"  "coulees,"  "bad  lands"  and  plains  absolutely 
devoid  of  antelopes,  and  tenanted  only  by  coyotes  and  gray 
wolves. 

Structurally,  the  Prong-Horn  is  so  peculiar  it  has  been 
found  necessary  to  create  for  it  a  special  zoological  family, 
called  Antilocapridac,  of  which  it  is  the  sole  member.  This 
is  due  to  the  following  facts:  (1)  This  is  the  only  living 
mammal  possessing  hollow  horns  (growing  over  a  bony  core) 
which  sheds  them  annually;  (2)  it  is  the  only  animal  pos- 
sessing a  hollow  horn  which  bears  a  prong,  or  bifurcation; 

(3)  it  has  no  "dew  claws,"  as  other  ruminant  animals  have; 

(4)  the  horn  is  placed  directly  above  the  eye;  (5)  the  long 
hair  of  the  body  and  neck  is  tubular;  and  (6)  that  on  the 
rump  is  erectile. 

In  size  the  Prong-Horn  is  the  smallest  ruminant  animal  in- 
habiting North  America  north  of  Mexico,  unless  it  becomes 
necessary  to  place  below  it  the  small  deer  of  Texas.  It  is 
nimble-footed  and  graceful  at  all  times,  save  when  it  runs 
with  its  head  carried  low,  like  a  running  sheep.  The  doe 
brings  forth  two  kids  at  a  birth,  usually  in  May  or  June,  and 
during  the  summer  months  the  bands  are  quite  broken  up. 
The  winter  coat  is  shed — in  great  bunches— during  late 
spring  and  early  summer,  and  the  new  coat  of  short,  gray 
hair  makes  the  Prong-Horn  look  strange  and  unnatural.  By 
October,  however,  his  new  coat  is  at  its  brightest,  he  is  fat 
and  vigorous,  and  in  every  way  at  his  best.  As  winter 
approaches  (November)  the  antelope  assemble  until  great 
herds  are  formed,  sometimes  a  hundred  and  fifty  animals 
being  found  together. 


40  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

Unfortunately,  the  Prong-Horned  Antelope  is  not  a  hardy 
animal.  The  kids  are  very  difficult  to  rear;  they  are  at  all 
times  easily  hurt  by  accident,  and  even  in  a  state  of  nature 
this  species  suffers  more  severely  in  winter  than  any  other 
North  American  ruminant.  Often  the  herds  drift  helplessly 
before  the  blizzards,  with  numerous  deaths  from  freezing 
and  starvation,  and  in  spring  the  survivors  come  out  thin 
and  weak. 


THE  CAMEL  HOUSE,  No.  39. 


Speaking  in  a  collective  sense,  the  Camel  is  much  more 
than  an  ordinary  animal  unit  in  a  zoological  park.  On  the 
high  plains  of  central  and  southwestern  Asia,  and  through- 
out the  arid  regions  of  Africa,  it  is  an  institution.  Without 
it,  many  portions  of  the  Old  World  would  be  uninhabitable 
by  man.  Take  either  Dromedary  or  Bactrian  Camel,  and  it 
is  a  sad-eyed,  ungainly,  slow-moving  creature,  full  of  plaints 
and  objections;  but  remember  that  it  goes  so  far  back  to- 
ward the  foundations  of  man's  dynasty,  that  beside  it  the 
oldest  American  history  seems  but  a  record  of  yesterday. 
It  is  only  a  species  of  the  utmost  tenacity  which  could  for 
fifty  centuries  or  more  withstand  constant  use  and  abuse 
by  man  without  being  altered  out  of  all  resemblance  to  its 
original  form.  All  races  of  mankind  and  all  breeds  of 
domestic  animals  save  one,  change  and  continue  to  change, 
indefinitely,  but  the  Camels  go  on  the  same,  forever. 

The  Bactrian  Camel,  (Camelus  bactrianus),  he  of  the  long 
shaggy  hair — it'hen  not  shedding — and  the  two  great  humps, 
is  the  beast  of  heavy  burden,  the  four-footed  freight-car  of 
the  desert  sands.  He  can  carry  550  pounds  of  freight,  for 
three  or  four  days  between  drinks;  but  a  swift  pace  is  not 
for  him.  It  is  an  animal  of  this  remarkable  species,  from 
distant  Turkestan,  southwestern  Asia,  which  daily  in  fine 
weather  offers  its  services  as  a  riding  animal,  at  the  stand 
near  the  Large  Bird  House. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  the  Bactrian  Camel  is  in  its  finest 
pelage  only  in  winter,  when  visitors  to  the  Park  are  few, 
and  camel-riding  is  out  of  the  question.  Promptly  upon  the 
approach  of  warm  weather  and  a  million  visitors,  it  sheds 
its  long,  shaggy  brown  coat,  and  stands  forth  as  if  shorn  by 
a  shearer.  Of  this  species,  the  Zoological  Society  possesses 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  41 

two  fine  specimens  (the  gift  of  Captain  John  S.  Barnes),  one 
of  which  will  at  all  times  be  found  regularly  exhibited  at 
the  Camel  House,  close  by  the  Crotona  (southwest)  En- 
trance. 

The  Dromedary,  or  Single-Humped  Camel,  (Camelus  dro- 
medarius),  is  a  smaller  animal  than  the  preceding,  of  lighter 
build,  and  therefore  capable  of  much  more  speed  in  travel- 
ling. This  species  never  is  clothed  with  long  hair. 

Next  to  the  Camel's  House  and  corrals  is  the  installation 
for  the  nearest  relatives  of  those  species, — the  Llamas,  Gua- 
nacos  and  other  cameloids  of  South  America. 


THE  LLAMA  HOUSE,  No.  38. 

Situated   near   the   Crotona  Entrance. 


The  arid  regions  of  South  America  are  inhabited  by  four 
species  of  long-necked,  long-haired,  soft-footed  animals,  so 
closely  related  to  the  camels  of  the  Old  World  that  they  are 
called  cameloids.  There  are  four  species.  The  llama  and 
alpaca  are  in  a  state  of  domestication,  and  are  supposed  to 
have  been  derived  from  the  wild  guanaco  and  vicunia.  All 
of  them  might  almost  be  described  as  small-sized,  hump- 
less  camels ;  and  their  tempers  and  mental  traits  are  as  odd 
as  their  forms. 

The  ordinary  cameloid  is  a  quiet  and  inoffensive  creature; 
but  the  exception  is  a  rogue  of  rogues.  It  will  bite  with  the 
persistence  of  a  bull-dog,  and  with  its  massive,  chisel-like 
lower  incisors  inflicts  ugly  wounds.  At  times  a  llama  or 
vicunia  becomes  actually  insane,  and  seeks  to  destroy  every 
living  creature  within  its  reach.  Regardless  of  punishment, 
such  creatures  attack  their  keepers  and  their  herd-mates, 
spit  upon  visitors,  and  rage  up  and  down  their  corrals  in 
most  absurd  fashion.  Occasionally  such  individuals  require 
to  be  completely  isolated. 

The  Llama,  (Lama  glama},  is  the  largest  and  strongest 
member  of  the  group.  Its  body  is  covered  with  a  thick 
mass  of  long,  wavy  hair  of  fine  texture,  which  may  be  either 
brown,  white,  white  and  brown,  or  almost  black.  The  head 
and  legs  are  short-haired  like  those  of  the  guanaco.  From 
time  immemorial,  this  animal  has  been  used  as  a  beast  of 
burden,  and  in  the  Andes  has  played  an  important  part  in 


42  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

the  mineral  industry  by  carrying  silver  ore  and  bullion  from 
the  mines. 

The  Alpaca,  (Lama  pacos),  is  bred  for  its  wool.  It  is 
smaller  than  the  llama,  but  more  abundantly  haired  on  the 
legs,  neck  and  head.  Its  fleece  is  long,  and  lies  in  stringy 
tufts.  Usually  its  color  is  dark  brown  or  black,  but  occasion- 
ally a  white  Alpaca  is  seen.  A  white  specimen  in  the  Zoo- 
logical Park  collection  has  blue  eyes. 

The  Guanaco,  (Lama  guanacus),  is  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting and  valuable  wild  animals  now  found  in  Patagonia. 
Unfortunately,  it  is  so  stupid  and  incapable  that  it  is  easily 
killed.  The  natives  of  Terra  del  Fuego,  themselves  almost 
the  lowest  and  most  ignorant  of  men,  slaughter  Guanacos 
for  food  by  surrounding  groups  of  them  and  clubbing  them 
to  death. 

In  size  the  Guanaco  is  between  the  llama  and  vicunia, 
and  its  shoulder  height  is  about  4  feet.  Its  hair  is  thick  anc 
woolly,  of  a  pale  reddish  color,  and  there  are  naked  patches 
on  the  legs.  This  species  is  found  on  the  Andes,  from  Ecua- 
dor to  Terra  del  Fuego,  and  appears  to  be  most  abundant  in 
Patagonia. 

The  Vicunia,  (Lama  vicunia},  is  the  only  member  of  the 
cameloid  group  which  is  not  clothed  with  a  mass  of  long 
hair.  It  is  the  smallest  member  of  the  group,  comparatively 
short-haired,  its  color  is  a  uniform  light  brown,  its  head  is 
small,  and  there  are  no  callosities  on  the  hind  legs.  The 
Vicunia  is  found  from  southern  Ecuador,  through  Peru  to 
central  Bolivia. 

The  Zoological  Society's  entire  collection  of  cameloids 
was  presented  by  Mr.  Robert  S.  Brewster. 


NORTH  AMERICAN  DEER. 
Elk,  Mule  Deer,  White-Tail,  Caribou  and  Moose. 

The  American  members  of  the  Deer  Family  will  be  found 
in  the  ranges  situated  on  the  hill  west  of  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond,  stretching  from  the  Llama  House  northward  to  the 
Service  Road. 

After  several  years  of  patient  and  persistent  experiments, 
we  must  admit  that  to  all  the  American  members  of  the  Deer 
Family  save  the  wapiti,  the  climate  of  New  York  City  is 


XRW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARS.  43 

decidedly  inimical.  This  densely  humid  and  extremely  sa- 
line .atmosphere  is  about  as  deadly  to  the  black-tail,  mule 
deer,  white-tailed  deer,  caribou  and  moose  as  it  is  to  the 
Eskimo;  and  thus  far  we  have  found  it  an  absolute  im- 
possibility to  maintain  satisfactory  herds  of  those  species  in 
the  ranges  available  for  them.  In  great  tracts  of  forests, 
some  of  them  might  become  acclimatized ;  but,  be  that  as  it 
may,  all  experiments  made  thus  far  both  here  and  in  two 
of  the  great  game  preserves  of  New  England,  prove  con- 
clusively that  black-tail  deer,  mule  deer,  caribou,  moose,  and 
also  prong-horned  antelope,  are  among  the  most  difficult  of 
all  ruminants  to  acclimatize  anywhere  in  the  United  States 
eastward  of  the  great  plains. 

Although  the  Zoological  Society  will  continue  its  experi- 
ments wth  some  of  these  preserve  species,  and  will  always 
strive  to  exhibit  some  of  them,  our  original  hopes  regarding 
them  have  been  abandoned.  We  are  certain  that  the  diffi- 
culty lies  not  in  the  food,  but  in  climate  conditions,  that  are 
beyond  our  control,  and  especially  our  very  salty  atmosphere. 

The  American  Elk,  or  Wapiti,  (Ccrvus  canadensis] . — Of 
all  the  numerous  members  of  the  Deer  Family,  this  animal  is 
second  in  size  to  the  moose  only ;  and  in  the  autumn,  when 
its  pelage  is  bright  and  luxuriant,  its  sides  well  rounded,  its 
massive  antlers  clean  and  held  conspicuously  aloft,  the  elk 
may"  justly  be  called  the  king  of  the  Ccrvi'dac.  It  is  well 
that  in  the  Yellowstone  Park  we  have  an  unfailing  supply 
of  Elk,  which  bids  fair  to  perpetuate  this  handsome  species 
for  another  century. 

Our  Elk  Range  might  well  stand  for  a  mountain  park,  in 
which  is  set  a  natural  lakelet  of  real  value.  In  October, 
when  the  splendid  groves  of  beech,  oak,  and  maple  along 
the  eastern  ridge  put  on  all  the  glorious  tints  of  autumn, 
and  the  big  thicket  of  sumacs,  ash,  and  haw  on  the  northern 
hill  fairly  blaze  with  scarlet — then  are  the  elk  also  at  their 
best.  There  is  no  finer  picture  in  animate  nature  than  a 
herd  of  elk  in  October,  with  such  a  setting  of  greensward, 
tree-trunk,  and  foliage. 

The  maximum  shoulder  height  of  the  Elk  is  5  feet  4 
inches,  or  thereabouts,  and  the  heaviest  weight  noted  thus 
far  is  927  pounds. 

The  calves  are  born  from  May. to  July,  and  are  spotted 
during  the  first  six  months.  During  the  first  year  the  ant- 
lers are  merely  two  straight  spikes,  called  "dag  antlers." 
As  in  all  members  of  the  Deer  Family,  the  antlers  are  shed 


44  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

every  year — which  to  many  persons  is  almost  beyond  be- 
lief. Any  person  who  visits  a  zoological  garden  in  mid- 
summer will  see  that  the  old  antlers  have  dropped  off  bodily, 
just  below  the  burr,  and  that  new  antlers,  covered  with  hair, 
soft,  full  of  blood,  and  with  club-like  "points,"  have  sprung 
up  like  mushrooms  in  place  of  the  old  ones.  In  supplying 
the  great  drain  on  the  system  necessary  to  support  this  re- 
markable growth,  the  Elk  grows  thin,  and  the  fear  of  hurt- 
ing his  tender  young  antlers  makes  him  quite  timid  and  in- 
offensive. He  is  no  longer  the  tyrant  of  the  herd,  and  a  con- 
stant menace  to  his  keepers. 

At  this  point  it  is  not  amiss  to  call  attention  to  the  differ- 
ences between  horns  and  antlers. 

A  horn  is  a  hollow  sheath,  growing  over  a  bony  core,  and 
except  in  the  case  of  the  prong-horned  antelope,  is  never 
shed.  Horns  are  worn  by  both  sexes  of  all  bison,  buffaloes, 
cattle,  antelope,  sheep,  and  goats. 

An  antler  is  of  solid  bone  throughout,  growing  from  the 
skull;  it  is  shed  every  year  close  to  the  skull,  and  quickly 
renewed.  Usually  antlers  have  several  branches.  They  are 
worn  by  nearty  all  male  members  of  the  Deer  Family — moose, 
elk,  caribou,  deer,  etc.,  and  also  by  the  female  caribou.  The 
prongs  on  an  antler  are  no  index  of  the  wearer's  age.  Some 
of  the  finest  and  most  massive  elk  antlers  have  only  twelve 
or  fourteen  points.  During  August  and  September  the  hairy 
covering,  or  "velvet,"  of  new  antlers  is  rubbed  off  against 
trees  and  bushes.  This  period  is  quickly  followed  by  the 
mating  season,  during  which  the  neck  of  the  bull  becomes 
unusually  large,  and  often  the  animal  becomes  dangerous. 

Although  the  Elk  is  essentially  a  timber-loving  animal,  it 
also  wandered  far  into  the  plains  bordering  the  Rocky 
Mountains  on  the  east — until  driven  from  them  by  man. 
The  ideal  home  of  this  animal  is  the  timbered  foothills  af 
our  western  mountains,  up  to  8,000  feet.  Although  once 
found  from  Virginia  and  New  York  to  Oregon,  and  from 
northern  Manitoba  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  it  is  now  numer- 
ous only  in  and  adjacent  to  the  Yellowstone  Park,  in  cen- 
tral Colorado,  where  it  is  well  protected,  and  in  western 
Manitoba.  The  number  of  Elk  in  the  National  Park  is 
variously  estimated  at  from  10,000  head  to  a  much  larger 
number. 

In  a  wild  state,  the  Elk  feeds  on  grasses,  weeds,  and  the 
leaves  and  twigs  of  various  trees  and  shrubs.  Of  all  Amer- 
ican deer,  it  is  the  most  easy  to  acclimate  and  breed  in 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  45 

captivity.  Large  herds  are  now  being  maintained  and 
bred  in  numerous  private  game  preserves  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, New  York,  Minnesota,  Massachusetts,  and  elsewhere. 
About  200  head  have  been  released  in  the  Adirondacks. 

The  Mule  Deer,  (Odocoileus  hemionus). — This  fine  animal 
is  universally  known  throughout  the  Rocky  Mountain  re- 
gion, which  constitutes  its  home,  as  the  "Black-Tailed  Deer." 
Because  of  its  very  large  ears,  and  the  absence  of  a  black 
tail,  it  is  known  to  naturalists  as  the  Mule  Deer.  Inasmuch 
as  its  tail  is  not  black,  the  above  more  common  name  prop- 
erly applies  to  Odocoileus  columbianus,  the  true  black-tailed 
deer  of  the  Pacific  coast.  In  Manitoba  this  animal  is  called 
the  "Jumping  Deer,"  because  when  running  at  a  gallop,  it 
makes  a  series  of  stiff -legged  jumps,  or  "bucks,"  of  great 
length. 

The  Mule  Deer  is  larger  than  the  Virginia  deer,  and  more 
strongly  built.  The  weight  of  full-grown  bucks  ranges 
from  250  to  300  pounds,  and  specimens  have  been  known 
to  reach  325  pounds.  The  antlers  of  the  Mule  Deer  are 
larger  and  handsomer  than  those  of  the  Virginia  deer,  and 
are  much  better  poised  on  the  head.  Instead  of  dropping 
forward,  they  partake  more  of  the  set  of  an  elk's  antlers, 
and  many  a  "tenderfoot"  hunter  has  mistaken  a  heavily- 
antlered  Mule  Deer  for  an  elk.  The  antlers  of  a  Mule  Deer 
are  easily  distinguished  from  those  of  the  Virginia  species 
by  the  two  Y-shaped  prongs  on  each  antler.  It  will  be  re- 
membered that  instead  of  these,  the  Virginia  deer  antler 
bears  three  straight,  perpendicular  spikes. 

The  Mule  Deer  makes  its  home  in  the  rugged  ravines  and 
bad  lands  so  common  along  the  creeks  and  rivers  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  region,  extending  well  eastward  into  the 
plains.  Of  late  years  it  has  been  driven  out  of  the  most 
accessible  of  its  former  haunts,  and  forced  to  take  shelter 
in  the  rugged  fastnesses  of  the  foothills  and  mountains. 
West  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  it  was  formerly  found  along 
the  whole  Pacific  slope,  from  Cape  St.  Lucas  to  British 
Columbia,  although  in  northern  California  it  is  almost  re- 
placed by  the  Columbian  Black-Tail,  (O.  columbianus}. 

The  Virginia  Deer,  (Odocoileus  virginianus),  is  the  spe- 
cies most  widely  known  throughout  the  United  States, 
partly  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  species 
with  which  the  early  settlers  of  America  became  acquainted, 
partly  because  of  its  wide  distribution,  and  also  its  persist- 
ence in  holding  its  own.  In  various  localities  this  animal 
is  known  under  various  names,  such  as  "White-Tailed  Deer," 


46  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

' '  Flag-Tailed  Deer, ' '  and  ' '  Fan-Tailed  Deer. "  Although  not 
at  all  in  need  of  it,  quite  recently  it  has  received  still  an- 
other name — American  Deer.  The  small  deer  of  Florida, 
and  also  of  New  Mexico  and  the  Southwest,  have  been 
described  as  separate  forms;  and  if  size  is  to  be  accepted 
as  a  factor  in  the  differentiation  of  species,  the  diminutive 
proportions  of  the  proposed  southern  species  are  quite  suffi- 
cient to  establish  their  separate  identity. 

The  Virginia  deer  of  Virginia  and  the  northern  United 
States  is  a  fine  animal — large,  strong-limbed,  heavily-ant- 
lered  and  hardy.  Between  it  and  the  deer  of  Florida  the 
difference  is  as  great  as  that  between  a  setter  dog  and  a  mas- 
tiff. Thanks  to  the  fact  that  this  species  is  a  born  skulker 
and  lives  only  in  thick  brush  and  timber,  it  still  holds  its 
own  throughout  the  forest  regions  of  the  South  generally, 
Pennsylvania,  the  Adirondacks,  Maine.  Michigan,  Minne- 
sota, the  Dakotas,  Montana,  and  Colorado.  In  the  West 
it  is  often  found  inhabiting  brushy  ravines  and  river  bot- 
toms. 

This  species  breeds  readily  in  confinement,  and  when  pro- 
tected in  any  large  tract  of  brush  or  timber,  increases 
rapidly.  During  the  months  of  September,  October,  and 
November,  the  bucks  are  dangerous  and  untrustworthy. 
The  peculiar  formation  of  the  antlers — three  strong,  spear- 
like  points  thrust  straight  upward  from  the  beam — makes 
them  dangerous  weapons;  and  when  an  ill-tempered  buck 
lowers  his  chin  and  drives  straight  forward  with  eight 
sharp  spears  of  solid  bone,  and  nearly  three  hundred  pounds 
of  weight  to  back  them,  he  may  well  be  considered  a  dan- 
gerous animal.  He  is  to  be  feared  less  than  the  elk  only 
because  he  is  smaller. 

The  Woodland  Caribou,  (Rangifer  caribou). — The  first 
hoofed  animal  to  arrive  at  the  Zoological  Park  was  a  young 
female  of  this  species,  which  was  procured  in  Champlain 
County,  Canada,  and  forwarded  to  the  Society  by  one  of 
our  members,  Mr.  George  S.  Huntington.  These  animals, 
when  present  in  the  Park,  will  be  kept  in  a  small  enclo- 
sure, because  a  large  range  containing  an  abundance  of 
green  grass  is  fatal  to  them. 

The  wild  range  of  the  Woodland  Caribou  extends  from 
Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia,  and  Maine,  with  many  wide 
gaps,  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Yukon  River,  in  southern 
Alaska.  The  following  localities  are  worthy  of  special  men- 
tion :  northern  Quebec  and  Ontario ;  James  Bay ;  the  north- 
ern end  of  Lake  Winnipeg  (occasionally)  ;  Lake  of  Woods, 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  47 

Minnesota ;  Oregon  near  Mount  Hood ;  northern  Idaho ; 
northwestern  Montana,  and  the  mountains  of  British  Co- 
lumbia. 

Quite  recently,  three  new  species  of  caribou  have  been 
added  to  our  fauna,  one  from  the  Alaskan  Peninsula  (Ran- 
gifer  granti),  one  from  the  Kenai  Peninsula  (Rangifer  sto- 
nei),  and  one  from  the  Cassiar  Mountains  (Rangifer  os- 
borni). 

The  Woodland  Caribou  attains  nearly  twice  the  bodily 
bulk  of  its  more  northern  congener,  the  Barren-Ground 
caribou.  In  a  state  of  nature  it  lives  on  browse,  reindeer 
moss,  tree  moss,  and  lichens,  and  it  loves  ice-covered  lakes 
and  ponds  as  much  as  any  boy.  Its  loose-jointed  and  wide 
spreading  hoofs  and  enormously  developed  " dew-claws" 
have  been  specially  designed  by  Nature  to  enable  this  ani- 
mal to  run  freely,  as  if  on  snow-shoes,  over  snow  or  bogs, 
which  to  any  small-hoofed  deer  would  be  quite  impassable. 

The  female  Woodland  Caribou  is  provided  with  small  ant- 
lers, which,  like  those  of  the  male,  are  shed  and  renewed 
annually. 

In  the  absence  of  caribou  in  the  Park,  visitors  are  advised 
to  look  for  specimens  of  the  Lapland  Reindeer,  (Rangifer 
tarandus),  for  we  shall  endeavor  to  keep  this  genus  rep- 
resented. 


THE  ZEBRA  HOUSES,  No.  14. 


Although  the  main  building  of  this  installation  has  not 
yet  been  erected,  the  plan  for  the  various  buildings  and 
corrals  has  been  approved,  and  the  two  rustic  buildings 
will  be  in  place  in  the  summer  .of  1907.  The  three  build 
ings,  and  the  extensive  corrals  connecting  with  them,  will, 
as  a  whole,  do  justice  to  the  important  and  picturesque 
Family  Equidac,  which  includes  all  the  zebras,  wild  asses 
and  wild  horses  of  the  world. 

This  installation  occupies  the  whole  of  the  beautiful, 
grassy  knoll  of  about  six  acres  formerly  devoted  to  the 
moose.  It  is  situated  at  the  head  of  Bird  Valley,  on  the 
western  side,  and  due  west  of  the  Elephant  House.  The 
main  building,  which  will  be  erected  in  1907-8,  will  be  very 
much  like  the  Small-Deer  House.  Meanwhile,  the  zebras 
and  asses  will  be  found  in  the  Antelope  House  and  the 
Prjevalsky  Horses  at  the  old  Moose  House. 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


GRANT'S    ZEBRA. 

The  Prjevalsky  Horses,  (Equus  prjevalskn}.— Of  all  the 
wild  equines  which  either  now  or  hereafter  may  be  seen  in 
the  Zoological  Park,  the  strange  little  wild  horses  from 
western  Mongolia  are,  and  probably  will  remain,  the  most 
interesting,  from  a  zoological  point  of  view.  Broadly  speak- 
ing, they  are  the  connecting  link  between  the  many-striped 
zebras,  the  little-striped  quaggas  and  the  wild  asses  on  one 
side,  and  the  domestic,  unstriped  horse  on  the  other.  These 
wild  horses  possess  a  narrow,  dark  dorsal  stripe,  which,  in  the 
winter  pelage  is  scarcely  visible,  but  in  summer  is  plainly 
evident.  A  perfect  specimen  has  an  erect  mane,  no  long 
forelock  and  no  "chestnuts"  on  its  legs.  On  the  upper 
half  of  its  tail  the  hair  is  short,  and  mule-like,  but  on  the 
lower,  or  terminal  half,  it  is  long  and  horse-like.  The  win- 
ter coat  of  this  animal  is  very  long  and  shaggy. 

The  parents  of  these  horses  were  captured  in  1900,  by  an 
expedition  sent  out  by  Carl  Hagenbeck,  in  Sungaria,  west- 
ern Mongolia,  between  the  Altai  and  Thian-Shan  Mountains. 
The  expedition  cost  about  $25,000,  and  of  the  52  colts  cap- 
tured by  the  wild  Khirgiz  horsemen  employed  in  the  chase. 
only  23  reached  Hamburg  alive.  The  specimens  exhibited 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


49 


.PRJEVALSKY    HORSES. 

are  very  perfect  and  typical  representatives  of  their  species. 

Grant's  Zebra,  (Equus  burchdli  gmnti).—0£  all  the  zebras 
now  seen  in  captivity,  the  great  majority  belong  to  what 
very  properly  may  be  designated  as  the  group  of  Burchell 
Zebras.  This  group  contains,  besides  the  type  species,  which 
has  practically  no  stripes  on  its  legs,  four  subspecies,  whose 
legs  are  more  or  less  striped,  and  which  may  or  may  not 
possess  "shadow  stripes"  on  the  hind-quarters.  A  "shadow 
stripe"  is  a  faint,  dark  stripe  in  the  middle  of  a  wide  white 
or  pale  yellow  stripe  which  lies  between  two  broad  black 
stripes. 

Grant's  Zebra  is  the  most  heavily  striped  of  the  subspecies 
composing  the  Burchell  group.  The  visitor  will  observe 
that  its  horizontal  leg-stripes  are  very  pronounced,  and  so 
numerous  that  they  are  carried  quite  down  to  the  hoofs. 
The  ground-color  of  the  animal  is  a  cold  white,  and  the 
thigh  and  body  stripes  are  very  wide  and  intense.  This 
fine  pair  was  captured  in  Masailand,  East  Africa,  in  1902. 

Chapman's  Zebra,  (Equus  burchdli  chapmani),  also  be- 
longs to  the  Burchell  group,  and  in  its  color  pattern  it  ap- 
proaches quite  nearly  to  the  type.  The  legs  of  the  male 
bear  a  few  stripes,  those  of  the  female  almost  none.  There 
are  visible  on  the  hind-quarters,  of  the  female  a  few  faint 
shadow-stripes. 


50  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

The  Persian  Wild  Ass,  (Equns  pcrsicus},  is  a  very  satis- 
factory representative  of  the  wild  asses  generally.  Its  dor- 
sal-stripe is  very  wide  and  sharply  defined,  but  it  bears  no 
shoulder-stripe,  and  those  that  are  faintly  indicated  on  its 
legs  are  nothing  more  than  oblong  blotches  of  dark  color. 
As  its  name  implies,  it  inhabits  Persia,  and  Syria,  and  a 
closely  related  form,  the  Onager,  (E.  onager),  is  found  in 
Beluchistan  and  western  India.  A  third  species,  the  Kiang 
(E.  hemionus),  is  found  on  the  plains  of  Tibet. 

The  male  specimen  shown  here  was  born  in  the  Philadel- 
phia Zoological  Garden. 


THE  ASIATIC  AND  EUROPEAN  DEER,  Nos.  1-3. 


In  representatives  of  the  deer,  (Family  Cervidac).  Asia 
far  surpasses  all  other  countries.  Her  species  number  about 
38, — fully  double  that  of  any  other  continental  area, — and 
from  the  great  Altai  wapiti  to  tiny  musk  deer,  the  varia- 
tions in  size  and  form  are  fairly  bewildering.  The  entire 
hill  that  rises  between  the  Fordham  Entrance  and  Bird 
Valley,  from  Cope  Lake  to  the  Zebra  Houses,  is  devoted 
to  the  series  of  houses,  corrals  and  ranges  that  are  occupied 
by  the  deer  of  Asia  and  Europe. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  a  number  of  desirable  species  of 
Asiatic  deer  can  successfully  be  acclimatized  in  the  parks 
and  game  preserves  of  America,  and  induced  to  breed.  Al- 
most without  an  exception  they  are  strong  and  vigorous 
feeders,  and  they  keep  fat  and  sleek  when  our  own  black- 
tail,  mule  deer  and  white-tail  mince  like  pampered  epicures, 
grow  thinner  and  thinner,  and  finally  die  of  "malnutrition.1 
There  are  places  in  the  United  States  wherein  our  native 
deer  of  the  species  named  can  exist  in  captivity,  but  New 
York  City  is  not  one  of  them. 

Believing  that  the  members  of  the  group  amply  justify 
the  effort,  the  Zoological  Society  has  been  at  considerable 
pains  to  bring  together  a  fine,  representative  collection  of 
the  Old  World  Cervidae,  and  prepare  places  for  them.  Al- 
though the  series  proposed  is  not  quite  complete,  it  con- 
tains such  rarities  as  the  Altai  Wapiti,  Barasinga,  Burmese 
Thameng,  Malay  and  Indian  Sambar,  and  several  others. 
They  are  sheltered  by  four  houses,  the  largest  of  which 
crowns  the  summit  of  the  hill  on  the  right  of  Osborn's 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  51 

Walk  as  the  visitor  enters  from  Fordham.  For  the  visitors' 
convenience  we  will  make  note  of  the  various  species  about 
in  the  order  of  their  appearance,  and  not  in  zoological  se- 
quence. 

The  Axis  Deer,  (Axis  axis),  is  the  handsomest  of  all  the 
tropical  deer.  Indeed,  it  may  even  be  said  to  be  the  only 
species  of  the  tropics  possessing  both  form  and  pelage  which 
are  alike  pleasing  to  the  eye.  In  contrast  with  the  many 
beautiful  and  splendidly  colored  antelopes  of  Africa,  the 
deer  of  the  tropics,  all  round  the  world,  are  poorly  provided 
with  those  characters  which  make  a  handsome  animal. 
With  the  sole  exception  of  the  Axis  Deer,  nearly  all  the 
other  deer  of  the  East  Indies  have  thin,  coarse,  dull-colored 
hair,  their  antlers  are  small,  and  seldom  have  more  than  four 
points.  This  is  equally  true  of  the  deer  of  Mexico,  Central 
and  South  America.  Even  our  own  Virginia  deer,  so  lusty 
and  fine  in  the  North,  becomes  in  Florida  and  Texas  so 
dwarfed  that  it  has  now  been  called  a  subspecies. 

Considering  the  severe  plainness  of  all  the  other  deer  in 
the  tropics,  it  is  a  little  strange  that  the  coat  of  the  Axis 
should  be  the  most  beautiful  possessed  by  any  deer.  But  it 
is  quite  true;  and  apart  from  the  majesty  of  the  elk,  there 
is  no  more  beautiful  sight  in  cervine  life  than  the  picture 
offered  by  a  herd  of  Axis  Deer  feeding  in  a  sunlit  glade 
surrounded  by  forest. 

This  species  adapts  itself  to  out-door  life  in  the  temperate 
zone  with  surprising  readiness,  not  even  second  in  that 
respect  to  the  eland.  As  a  matter  of  course  the  Axis  can  not 
withstand  the  fierce  blizzards  of  midwinter  as  do  the  elk 
and  other  northern  deer;  but  a  reasonable  degree  of  care 
in  providing  it  with  a  dry  barn,  and  shelter  from  cold  winds, 
enables  it  to  live  even  as  far  north  as  northern  Germany 
with  perfect  comfort.  In  winter  our  Axis  Deer  barn  is  mod- 
erately  heated  by  a  stove. 

The  Japanese  Sika  Deer,  (Cervus  sika  typicus),  is  a  small 
representative  of  a  large  group  of  deer  species  inhabiting 
far-eastern  Asia,  and  known  as  the  Sika  Deer  group.  A 
ridiculous  number  of  forms  have  been  described  as  species 
and  subspecies,  of  which  possibly  one-third  are  entitled  to 
stand.  Some  of  those  on  the  Asian  mainland,  as  the  Pekin 
Sika  Deer,  are  much  larger  than  the  Japanese  Sika,  and 
also  more  strikingly  colored.  The  latter  species,  shown  in 
our  northernmost  corral,  is  about  33  inches  in  height,  and  of 
a  dull  and  uninteresting  smoky-brown  color.  Its  antlers 
are  quite  large  for  a  deer  so  small,  and  in  the  mating  season 


52  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

males  are  sometimes  dangerous.  This  species  is  very  hardy, 
breeds  persistently,  requires  no  heat  in  winter,  and  very 
rarely  sends  a  case  to  the  hospital. 

The  Fallow  Deer,  (Dama  vulgaris],  is  the  type  of  a  dis- 
tinct group  of  deer  which  are  distinguished  by  the  posses- 
sion of  antlers  widely  palmated  throughout  the  upper  half 
of  the  beam.  In  some  old  Fallow  bucks  the  antlers  are 
quite  moose-like,  and  give  this  small  deer  an  imposing  ap- 
pearance far  out  of  proportion  to  its  actual  size.  The 
weight  of  a  large  buck  in  prime  condition  generally  is  be- 
tween 180  and  200  pounds,  and  its  shoulder  height  is 
between  36  and  40  inches.  The  largest  antlers  recorded 
by  Mr.  J.  G.  Millais,  in  his  beautiful  work  on  "The  British 
Deer,"  measured  29%  inches  in  length,  281/2  inches  spread, 
width  of  palmation  8  inches,  and  the  number  of  points  14. 
The  extinct  Irish  elk,  with  the  most  colossal  antlers  ever 
carried  by  a  cervine  animal,  was  a  near  relative  of  the 
two  living  species  of  Fallow  Deer. 

Although  a  native  of  northern  Africa  and  the  north  shore 
of  the  Mediterranean,  the  Fallow  Deer  was  acclimatized  in 
England  and  northern  Europe  so  long  ago  that  the  exact 
date  records  of  the  event  have  disappeared,  and  the  species 
is  now  at  home  in  very  many  European  forests  and  game 
preserves.  The  deer  parks  in  England  possess  many  fine 
herds,  but  they  sometimes  exhibit  one  unfortunate  result  of 
long  breeding  in  a  semi-domesticated  state — departure  from 
the  original  type. 

The  typical  Fallow  Deer  is  in  winter  very  dark  brown, 
with  light  brown  legs  and  under  parts,  and  in  summer  light 
red  with  white  spots — quite  like  the  axis.  From  this  stand- 
ard, the  variations  run  from  pure  white  through  the  color 
of  the  wild  type  to  jet  black. 

The  fine  herd  in  the  Zoological  Park  is  the  gift  of  Mr. 
William  Rockefeller.  Six  of  its  original  members  came 
from  the  donor's  herd  at  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  six 
were  purchased  from  one  of  the  imperial  parks  of  Russia, 
by  consent  of  the  Czar,  and  represent  the  most  hardy  stock 
obtainable. 

The  Burmese,  or  Eld's  Deer,  (Cervus  eldi),  also  known  as 
the  Brow-Antler  Deer,  is  one  of  the  rarest  species  to  be  seen 
in  captivity.  Living  specimens  are  acquired  only  through 
special  expeditions  to  northern  Burma.  Its  most  char- 
acteristic feature  is  the  antlers  of  the  male,  which  sends 
forward  a  very  long  and  almost  straight  brow  tine,  while 
the  main  beam  sweeps  backward  in  the  opposite  direction, 


XBTAV   YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  53 

and  describes  a  full  semicircle.  The  antlers  are  both  very 
heavy  and  long  for  the  size  of  the  animal.  The  specimens 
shown  here,  which  are  breeding  satisfactorily,  are  the  gift  of 
Mr.  William  Rockefeller. 

The  Barasinga  Deer,  (Census  duvauceli),  also  called  the 
Swamp  Deer,  is  to  India  what  the  mule  deer  is  to  North 
America.  To  my  mind,  the  antlers  of  the  former  always 
suggest  the  latter  species,  and  in  size  the  two  species  are 
much  alike.  In  summer  the  coat  of  the  Barasinga  is  of  a 
beautiful  golden-yellow  color,  conspicuous  from  afar,  and 
the  antlers  of  old  males  reach  a  length  of  from  35  to  41 
inches,  with  three  bifurcations  on  each  beam.  The  antlers 
sometimes  are  shed  and  renewed  twice  in  twelve  months. 
With  us  this  species  breeds  very  regularly,  and  the  off- 
spring mature  well. 

The  Altai  Wapiti,  (Census  canadensis  asiaticus),  is,  in  all 
probability,  the  parent  stock  of  our  American  elk,  but  it 
happens  to  be  a  fact  that  our  species  was  the  first  to  be 
discovered  by  systematic  zoologists,  and  described.  To  all 
visitors  who  are  interested  in  deer,  the  Altai  Wapiti — and 
also  the  Tashkent  Wapiti — are  a  constant  source  of  wonder, 
because  of  their  well-nigh  perfect  similarity  in  all  points 
to  our  own  wapiti,  or  American  elk.  Our  Asiatic  wapiti 
are  exhibited  in  ranges  connecting  with  the  western  rooms 
of  the  Asiatic  Deer  House,  where  they  have  bred  twice,  and 
produced  two  fine  fawns.  In  the  rutting  season  the  males 
are  very  cross  and  dangerous.  They  are  hardy,  and  re- 
quire no  heat  in  winter. 

The  Indian  Sambar,  (Census  unicolor),  always  suggests  a 
tropical  understudy  of  the  Altai  wapiti,  clad  with  thin, 
coarse,  bristly  hair,  and  with  shorter  and  smaller  antlers, 
and  a  bristly  mane  all  over  the  neck.  Each  antler  possesses 
three  points,  only.  Of  all  the  Old  World  Cervidae,  this 
species  most  nearly  approaches  the  size  of  the  Altai  and 
Tashkent  wapiti.  It  inhabits  the  hill  forests  of  India,  and 
in  Burma,  Siam  and  farther  south  it  is  replaced  by  the  next 
species. 

The  Malay  Sambar,  (Cervus  equinus),  also  called — most 
inappropriately — the  "Horse-Tailed  Deer,"  very  strongly 
resembles  the  preceding  species,  except  that  the  bristly 
mane  of  the  former  is  generally  absent.  The  antlers  of 
this  species  are  shorter,  also,  but  very  thick  in  proportion 
to  their  length.  The  Malay  Sambar  is  confined  to  the  Malay 
Peninsula  and  the  countries  immediately  above,  and  Borneo 
and  Sumatra. 


54  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

This  species  possesses  many  admirable  qualities,  and  it 
might  be  introduced  to  advantage  in  our  southern  states. 
It  is  very  even-tempered  and  sensible,  easily  handled,  is 
a  vigorous  feeder,  breeds  persistently,  and  matures  very 
rapidly;  but  in  every  New  York  winter,  it  requires  some 
heat  in  its  barn. 

The  Maral  Deer,  (Census  moral},  is  in  appearance  like  an 
extra  large  red  deer  or  a  small  elk.  It  is  a  midway  mem- 
ber of  the  Wapiti  group,  which  extends  in  a  somewhat 
broken  chain  from  Colorado,  northward  across  Bering  Strait 
to  Asia,  and  thence  across  Asia  and  Europe  to  Scotland. 
We  have  owned  a  fine  pair  of  Maral  Deer,  from  the  Cau- 
casus district,  but  they  have  failed  to  breed  as  expected. 

The  European  Red  Deer,  (Cervus  elaphits),  is  an  under- 
study of  the  American  elk,  which  it  much  resembles  in 
form  and  in  habits.  Next  to  the  elk  it  is  the  finest  living 
deer,  and  for  many  generations  has  held  its  own  against 
the  dangers  of  in-breeding.  In  the  parks  and  forest  pre- 
serves of  Great  Britain  and  Europe,  it  exists  abundantly, 
but  only  as  private  property,  subject  to  the  guns  of  the 
owner  and  his  friends.  This  species  has  been  successfully 
crossed  with  the  American  elk. 

The  entire  herd  of  Red  Deer  is  the  gift  of  Mr.  William 
Rockefeller.  This  original  stock  contained  two  bucks  and 
four  does,  procured  by  the  consent  of  the  Czar  of  Russia 
from  one  of  the  imperial  parks.  Russian  Red  Deer  are  very 
robust  and  hardy,  and  are  believed  to  represent  the  highest 
development  of  this  species.  In  addition  to  the  above,  five 
specimens  derived  from  English  stock  were  received  from 
Mr.  Rockefeller's  herd  at  Greenwich,  Connecticut. 

Other  Asiatic  Deer  will  be  found  in  the  Small-Deer  House, 
in  the  southern  end  of  the  Park. 


THE  LION  HOUSE,  No.  15. 

As  a  spectacle  of  captive  animal  life,  there  is  none  more 
inspiring  than  a  spacious,  well-lighted  and  finely-appointed 
lion  house,  filled  with  a  collection  of  the  world's  greatest 
and  handsomest  wild  beasts.  To  build  an  ideal  lion  house, 
and  fill  it  with  a  first-class  collection  of  large  felines,  are 
matters  involving  no  little  time  and  much  money;  but  the 
sight, — for  the  millions  of  visitors, — of  lions,  tigers,  jaguars, 
pumas,  leopards,  cheetahs,  black  leopards,  snow  leopards  and 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  TARE. 


55 


BAEBARY  LIOX.  "SULTAN." 

clouded  leopards,  all  under  one  roof,  surely  is  worth  what 
it  costs. 

The  Lion  House  of  the  Zoological  Park  was  completed, 
excepting  a  few  minor  details,  early  in  the  year  1903,  and 
was  formally  opened  to  the  public  in  February.  It  is  244 
feet  long,  115  feet  wide,  including  the  outdoor  cages,  and  its 
cost  when  completed  reached  $150,000.  The  materials  of 
the  building  are  of  the  same  kind  as  those  used  in  the  Rep- 
tile House  and  Primate  House,  but  the  animal  sculptures, 
all  by  Mr.  Eli  Harvey,  are  more  abundant  and  conspicuous 
than  on  any  other  structure  erected  heretofore.  The  build- 
ing contains  13  indoor  cages,  and  9  outdoor  cages,  and  be- 
tween the  two  there  is  free  communication.  The  sizes  of 
the  various  cages  are  as  follows : 

Interior  cages :  Largest,  14  feet  wide,  22  feet  deep ;  small- 
est, 13  feet  wide,  14  feet  high. 

Exterior  cages:  two  end  cages,  40x44  feet,  17  feet  high; 
central  cage,  40  feet  square,  14  feet  high;  smallest,  13  feet 
wide,  12  feet  deep,  13  feet  high. 

Excepting  for  the  single  fact  of  having  interior  and  ex- 
terior cages,  the  Lion  House  of  the  Zoological  Park  is — like 
the  Primate  House — an  entirely  original  development.  Its 
most  important  new  features  are  as  follows: 

All  cage  service,  the  introducing  and  withdrawal  of  ani- 


56  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

mals,  is  conducted  from  the  rear,  by  means  of  a  track  under, 
neath  the  sleeping  dens,  and  an  elevating  platform  ear. 

The  communication  between  indoor  and  outdoor  cages  is 
direct  and  continuous. 

Instead  of  upright  iron  bars,  all  the  cage  fronts  are  of 
hard-steel  wire  netting,  in  rectangular  pattern,  attached  to 
wrought  iron  frames.  This  is  considered  by  the  Zoological 
Society  a  great  improvement  upon  the  heavy  bar-work 
hitherto  in  universal  use  for  cage  fronts  in  lion  houses. 

The  space  above  the  sleeping  dens  has  been  developed 
as  a  sunlit  balcony,  whereon  the  animals  will  be  very  con- 
spicuous, even  to  large  crowds  of  visitors. 

Jungle-green  tiling,  impervious  to  moisture  and  dirt,  is, 
used  as  a  back-ground  for  the  animals. 

The  Lion  is  an  animal  of  perpetual  interest,  but  like 
every  other  noteworthy  wild  animal,  its  haunts  are  con- 
stantly being  claimed  by  civilization,  and  its  members  are 
rapidly  decreasing.  It  is  not  a  difficult  matter  to  exter- 
minate or  drive  out-  from  a  given  territory  any  large  and 
conspicuous  quadruped,  and  at  the  present  rate  of  settle- 
ment and  industrial  development  in  Africa,  it  may  easily 
come  to  pass  that  by  the  end  of  the  present  century,  the 
king  of  beasts  will  be  without  a  home,  outside  of  zoological 
collections. 

Like  everything  great,  the  Lion  has  his  share  of  critics 
and  detractors.  A  few  writers  have  asserted  that  because  he 
does  not  stalk  through  his  native  forests  with  head  proudly 
erect,  like  a  drum-major  on  parade,  he  is  mean-spirited  and 
cowardly.  But  the  beast  of  noble  countenance  believes  in 
the  survival  of  the  fittest,  and  both  by  inheritance  and 
observation  he  knows  that  a  lion  who  needlessly  exposes 
himself  in  the  field  captures  the  smallest  amount  of  game, 
and  attracts  the  greatest  number  of  steel-tipped  bullets. 

Although  Lions  vary  greatly  in  their  color,  and  in  the 
length  of  the  mane,  it  is  conceded  by  naturalists  that  only 
one  species  exists.  In  the  same  district  and  under  precisely 
similar  conditions  are  found  short-maned  and  long-maned 
individuals,  and  all  shades  of  color  from  tawny  yellow  to 
dark  brown.  The  present  geographic  range  of  the  species 
is  from  Southern  "Rhodesia  to  Persia  and  northwestern 
India,  but  in  northern  Egypt  there  is  a  large  extent  of 
territory  which  is  lionless. 

By  reason  of  his  heavy  mane  and  massive  countenance, 
supported  by  the  grandest  roar  that  issues  from  throat  of 
beast,  the  Lion  appears  to  be  a  larger  animal  than  he  really 


NEW   YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


JAGUAR     "SENO'R    LOPEZ." 

is.  It  is  yet  an  unsettled  question  whether  it  exceeds  the 
tiger  in  length,  height  or  weight,  and  it  is  certainly  true 
that  in  point  of  size  these  two  species  are  very  evenly 
matched. 

In  captivity,  the  Lion  is  reasonably  contented,  and  under 
good  conditions  breeds  readily,  and  lives  a  goodly  number 
of  years. 

The  Tiger  will  be  found  upon  the  earth  long  after  the 
lion  has  disappeared.  He  is  a  far  better  hider,  a  more  skill- 
ful hunter,  less  given  to  taking  foolish  risks,  and  he  does  not 
advertise  his  presence  and  invite  his  enemies  by  the  bom- 
bastic roaring  in  which  the  lion  delights  to  indulge.  The 
Tiger  is  an  animal  of  serious  mind,  and  he  attends  strictly 
to  business.  A  lion  will  stalk  out  into  the  open,  in  broad 
day,  but  the  Tiger  sticks  closely  to  cover  until  the  friendly 
darkness  renders  it  safe  to  roam  abroad. 

Despite  the  density  of  the  population  of  India,  and  the 
omnipresence  of  sahibs  with  rifles  of  large  caliber,  the  Tiger 


58  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

still  inhabits  all  India  from  Cape  Comorin  to  the  Himalayas, 
the  Malay  Peninsula,  Sumatra,  Burma,  Siam,  and  certain 
portions  of  China  up  to  the  region  of  snows.  Strange  to 
say,  the  finest  of  all  Tigers  are  found  in  Corea  and  Man- 
churia, where  they  grow  very  large,  and  develop  hair  that 
is  long  and  thick.  Corean  and  Siberian  Tigers  are  much 
sought  after  by  zoological  gardens,  partly  on  account  of 
their  size,  and  also  because  they  are  so  hardy  they  are 
able  to  live  out  doors  all  winter  in  the  temperate  zone.  The 
Tiger  is  not  found  in  Africa,  nor  in  any  country  westward  of 
India. 

The  maximum  length  attained  by  this  animal,  head,  body 
and  tail,  is  10  feet  2  inches.  A  very  large  specimen 
killed  by  Dr.  Hornaday  measured  9  feet  8i/>  inches  in  length, 
stood  3  feet  7  inches  high  at  the  shoulders,  and  weighed,  on 
the  scales,  495  pounds.  In  India,  Tigers  are  classed  accord- 
ing to  their  habits,  as  "game-killers,"  "cattle-lifters."  or 
"man-eaters."  Fortunately,  in  comparison  with  the  total 
number  of  these  animals,  the  latter  are  few  and  far  between. 

Of  yellow-coated  felines,  The  Jaguar,  (Felis  onca},  is 
next  in  size  to  the  tiger.  In  South  America,  it  is  almost 
universally  called  "El  Tigre"  (pronounced  Te-gre),  which 
is  Spanish  for  tiger.  Comparatively  few  Americans  are 
aware  that  this  superb  animal  belongs  in  the  fauna  of  the 
United  States,  but  such  is  the  fact.  The  northern  limit  of 
its  distribution  is  found  in  southern  Texas,  where  it  still 
exists  in  small  numbers.  In  South  America  it  extends  to 
Patagonia 

The  Jaguar  is  a  stocky,  heavily-built  animal,  with  a  mas- 
sive head  and  powerful  forearm.  It  is  a  good  climber,  and 
many  wonderful  stories  of  its  strength  have  been  told  and 
printed.  Amongst  leopards  of  all  kinds  it  can  always  be 
identified  by  the  great  size  of  the  black  rosettes  on  its  body, 
as  well  as  by  its  heavy  build. 

The  splendid  male  specimen,  named  "Senor  Lopez,"  in 
honor  of  a  former  President  of  Paraguay,  was  the  first  to 
arrive  for  the  new  Lion  House.  It  was  captured  in  August, 
1901,  in  the  wilds  of  central  Paraguay,  expressly  for  us, 
through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  "William  Mill  Butler,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  by  him  presented  to  the  Zoological  Park.  After 
a  long  journey  in  small  river  craft,  in  a  flimsy  wooden  cage 
that  several  times  came  near  collapsing,  the  animal  reached 
Asuncion,  was  taken  to  Liverpool  by  Mr.  Butler,  and  finally 
reached  New  York. 

The  Leopard,  (Felis  pardus),  is  fourth  in  size  from  the 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK  59 

lion,  and  is  distinguished  from  the  jaguar  by  smaller  spots 
and  less  powerful  form.  It  inhabits  both  Asia  and  Africa, 
from  Japan  to  Cape  Colony.  While  the  species  is  regarded 
as  the  same  throughout  that  vast  extent  of  territory,  it  is 
undoubtedly  true  that  the  Leopards  of  Africa  have  smaller 
spots  and  more  intense  coloring  than  those  of  Asia.  The 
maximum  size  for  this  species  is  a  total  length  of  8  feet, 
which  is  attained  only  by  a  very  large  animal,  with  a  long 
tail. 

Naturally,  the  Leopard  preys  upon  smaller  animals 
than  those  most  sought  by  the  lion  and  tiger.  It  prefers 
small  antelopes,  and  young  animals  generally,  goats  and 
sheep.  When  pursued,  it  is  very  skilful  in  hiding,  and  will 
shelter  in  brushy  cover  until  fairly  beaten  out. 

The  Black  Leopard  is  the  most  ill-tempered  of  all  feline 
animals — perpetually  snarling  and  growling,  and  seeking  to 
do  some  one  an  injury.  Old  World  naturalists  regard  it 
as  of  the  same  species  as  the  common  leopard,  (Felis  pardus}, 
despite  the  fact  that  it  is  found  only  in  southeastern  Asia, 
and  both  in  appearance  and  disposition  is  totally  different 
from  the  typical  pardus.  With  but  few  exceptions,  the 
world's  supply  of  Black  Leopards  comes  from  Singapore. 

The  Cheetah,  or  Hunting  Leopard,  (Cynaelnrus  jnbatus), 
is  marked  by  its  long  legs,  slender  body,  small  head,  small 
spots,  and  claws  that  are  only  partially  retractile.  Its 
structure  suggests  that  of  the  dogs.  It  is  distributed  very 
irregularly  through  portions  of  Africa  and  southern  Asia, 
and  is  by  no  means  a  common  animal  like  the  leopard  and 
tiger. 

In  central  India,  this  animal  is  trained  to  hunt  the  sasin 
antelope,  a  form  of  sport  indulged  in  chiefly  by  native  ra- 
jahs. The  Cheetah  takes  kindly  to  captivity,  and  permits 
handling  to  an  extent  quite  unknown  with  other  large 
felines.  Its  keepers  place  the  animal  upon  an  open  cart, 
blindfold  it,  and  then  drive  to  within  200  yards  of  a  herd  of 
antelope.  At  the  point  of  nearest  possible  approach,  the 
hood  is  removed,  and  the  animal  is  set  free.  Leaping  to  the 
ground,  the  Cheetah  stalks  the  herd  of  antelope  as  closely  as 
possible,  then  makes  a  sudden  rush  forward,  and  endeavors 
to  seize  a  victim.  If  successful,  the  animal  is  pulled  down 
find  killed.  If  not.  the  Cheetah  sullenly  retires,  and  again 
places  itself  in  the  hands  of  its  friends. 

The  Snow  Leopard,  or  Ounce,  (Felis  uncia),  is  the  rarest, 
and  also  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the  large  felines. 
It  inhabits  the  high  plateau  of  central  Asia  from  the  Hima- 


60  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDK. 

lay  as  to  the  Altai  Mountains  of  Mongolia,  above  9,000  feet. 
It  is  the  neighbor  of  the  Marco  Polo  sheep,  the  giant- 
horned  argali,  and  the  Siberian  ibex.  In  its  home  country, 
this  creature  is  sufficiently  numerous  that  2.000  tanned  skins 
sometimes  reach  Shanghai  in  a  single  year,  but  owing  to  its 
great  distance  from  railways  and  sea,  not  more  than  fifteen 
or  twenty  specimens  have  reached  the  zoological  gardens  of 
Europe  and  America.  Up  to  1907,  we  have  possessed  three 
specimens,  one  of  which  was  living  on  January  1.  1907. 
Some  individuals  are  good-natured  and  playful,  but  others 
are  morose. 

The  Puma,  or  Mountain  Lion,  (Fells  concolor),  is  the 
most  widely-known  feline  in  North  America.  At  present 
it  is  at  home  in  Florida,  Montana,  Wyoming,  Colorado, 
Texas,  and  all  the  states  westward  thereof.  Southward  it 
inhabits  Mexico  and  Central  America,  and  ranges  through 
South  America  quite  down  to  southern  Patagonia.  It  at- 
tains its  maximum  size  (8  feet  in  length,  weight  225  pounds) 
in  Colorado,  where  it  appears  to  be  more  numerous  than  in 
any  other  state.  In  Koutt  County  it  is  hunted  very  success- 
fully with  dogs.  When  pursued,  it  is  compelled  to  take 
refuge  in  a  low  tree,  in  which  it  can  be  photographed  or  shot 
without  danger. 

Despite  the  numerous  thrilling  stories  that  have  been 
written  and  published  about  the  dangerous  doings  of  this 
animal,  it  is  by  no  means  really  dangerous  to  man.  No 
Puma  holding  an  option  on  a  safe  line  of  retreat  ever  stops 
to  fight  a  man. 

The  Puma  was  formed  for  agility  rather  than  strength. 
It  swims  well,  and  it  is  the  most  agile  climber  of  all  the 
large  felines.  The  head  of  this  animal  is  particularly  beau- 
tiful, and  its  temper  in  captivity  is  entirely  satisfactory. 
The  first  specimen  of  this  species  to  enter  the  Zoological 
Park  came  from  Peru,  as  a  gift  from  Mr.  Joseph  P.  Grace, 
and  during  the  years  1901  and  1902  it  lived  out  doors,  con- 
stantly, in  the  Puma  Plouse  (No.  33A),  where  its  health  was 
excellent. 


THE  SEA-LIONS,  No.  12. 


Of  all  animals  which  find  permanent  homes  in  zoological 
gardens  and  parks,  very  few  afford  the  public  more  con- 
stant entertainment  than  Sea-Lions.  They  are  delightfully 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  61 

active,  and  in  one  way  or  another — diving,  swimming,  climb- 
ing or  hopping  about — are  nearly  always  "showing  off." 
No  one  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  their  pool  need  inquire 
where  they  are,  for  their  loud  and  cheerful  "Hook!  hook! 
hook!"  is  heard  far  and  wide,  and  draws  visitors  like  a 
magnet. 

The  Sea-Lion  Pool  is  situated  about  in  the  center  of  Baird 
Court. 

The  California  Sea-Lion,  or  "Barking  Sea-Lion,"  (Zalo- 
phus  calif  ornianus),  is  the  species  most  easily  caught  alive, 
and  the  one  usually  seen  in  captivity.  Its  home  is  the  coast 
of  California,  but  it  is  said  to  enter  the  Sacramento  River 
and  travel  upward  for  a  considerable  distance  in  pursuit  of 
spawning  salmon.  Comparatively  few  Sea-Lions  are  now 
found  on  the  mainland  coast  of  California,  and  but  for  the 
fact  that  on  the  United  States  Light-House  reservations 
their  slaughter  is  prohibited  by  the  Light-House  Board,  the 
people  of  California  would  now  be  waging  a  systematic  war 
on  the  species,  which  soon  would  exterminate  it. 

The  specimens  exhibited  in  the  Zoological  Park  were  cap- 
tured for  the  Society  near  Santa  Barbara.  Their  captors 
provided  themselves  with  lassos,  crept  along  the  rocky  cav- 
erns which  served  the  creatures  as  sleeping-dens,  lassoed 
them,  and  drew  them  forth.  During  the  long  journey 
across  the  continent  they  travelled  in  crates,  were  fed  on 
raw  fish,  and  twice  a  day  were  drenched  with  water.  Inas- 
much as  these  are  warm-blooded  animals,  provided  with 
lungs,  not  gills,  they  live  and  thrive  in  fresh  water.  Owing 
to  lack  of  room,  this  species  has  never  yet  been  known  to 
breed  in  captivity,  although  many  "pups"  have  been  born 
in  zoological  gardens  to  newly  caught  mothers. 

The  California  Sea-Lion  is  very  similar  in  size,  and,  leaving 
the  old  males  out  of  consideration,  it  is  almost  the  exact 
counterpart  in  form  of  that  apple  of  perpetual  international 
discord — the  Alaskan  "fur  seal."  The  unfortunate  fact  that 
the  latter  animal  has  become  known  as  a  "seal,"  has  caused 
much  confusion  in  people's  minds  regarding  the  classifica- 
tion of  pinnipeds  (fin-footed  animals)  generally.  For  this 
reason,  it  is  proper  to  observe  at  this  point  that : 

1.  Sea-Lions  have  flat,  triangular,  naked  front  flippers, 
without  claws;  they  have  long  necks,  and  carry  their  heads 
high.     There  are  nine  species,  of  which  the  so-called  "fur 
seal"  is  one. 

2.  Seals  always  have  short  and  stubby  front  flippers, 
which  are  covered  with  hair,  and  provided  with  nails.     In 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  63 

most  species  the  hair  is  coarse  and  valueless.  The  seal  has 
a  very  short  neck  and  by  reason  of  the  weakness  of  its 
front  flippers,  it  is  not  nearly  so  active  nor  so  interesting 
as  the  Sea-Lion. 

The  Harbor  Seal,  (Phoca  vitulina],  is  the  species  common 
along  our  Atlantic  coast,  and  since  it  serves  so  well  as  a 
type  of  the  hair  seals,  or  true  seals,  it  will  occasionally  be 
shown  in  the  Park.  In  comparison  with  the  active  and 
vivacious  sea-lion,  it  is  a  tame  and  rather  uninteresting 
creature ;  but  neither  has  any  commercial  value,  save  for  the 
purposes  of  exhibition  when  alive. 


THE  PRIMATE  HOUSE,  No.  17. 

The  Primates  are  the  four-handed  animals  belonging  to 
the  zoological  order  called  by  that  name,  which  includes  the 
apes,  both  great  and  small,  the  baboons,  monkeys  and  le- 
murs. The  word  "monkey"  is  by  no  means  sufficiently 
comprehensive  to  embrace  all  these  forms.  Were  it  other- 
wise, this  building  would  be  called,  officially,  the  Monkey 
House. 

The  Primates  are  the  creatures  which  stand  nearest  to 
man  in  the  zoological  scale,  and  in  interest  to  all  classes  of 
humanity  they  stand  above  all  others.  There  is  no  intelli- 
gent person,  civilized  or  savage,  to  whom  the  humanlikeness 
of  apes  and  monkeys  does  not  appeal.  On  the  other  hand, 
some  of  the  baboons  are  in  feature  and  temper  so  thoroughly 
beast-like,  their  diabolism  is  almost  as  fascinating  as  the 
man-like  character  of  the  great  apes.  The  variety  of  forms 
in  the  Order  Primates,  and  the  wide  differences  between  the 
various  groups,  imperatively  demand,  for  the  proper  rep- 
resentation of  this  Order,  a  large  collection. 

The  Primate  House  was  erected  in  1901,  at  a  cost  of 
$65,000,  and  opened  to  the  public  on  December  22d,  of  that 
year.  It  is  162  feet  in  length,  74  feet  in  width,  contains 
16  large  interior  cages,  22  small  cages,  and  11  exterior  cages, 
two  of  which  are  of  great  size.  The  points  of  special  ex- 
cellence in  this  building  are  as  follows:  An  abundance  of 
room  for  the  animals,  an  abundance  of  sunlight,  perfect 
ventilation,  an  extensive  series  of  open-air  cages,  freedom 
of  communication  between  outside  and  inside  cages,  floors 
and  walls  impervious  to  moisture  and  disease  germs,  and  the 
absence  of  iron  bars  from  all  cages  save  three. 


64  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

During  the  months  of  mild  weather,  all  the  inmates  of  the 
large  interior  cages  occupy,  at  will,  corresponding  cages 
in  the  outdoor  series.  It  is  also  intended  that  certain  hardy 
species  of  baboons,  and  the  red-faced  monkey  of  Japan, 
shall  be  provided  with  comfortable  sleeping  quarters  and 
live  outdoors,  every  winter.  It  is  believed  that  they  can 
do  this,  not  only  with  comfort,  but  with  great  physical 
benefit. 

For  general  convenience,  and  the  promotion  of  a  uni- 
versal understanding  of  the  primates,  we  propose  to  set 
them  forth  in  four  groups,  a  subdivision  strictly  according 
to  Nature,  readily  comprehended,  and  easily  remembered. 
They  are  as  follows,  with  typical  examples  of  each : 

I.     ANTHROPOID  APES. 

Chimpanzee Anthropopithccus  calvus.  .  .of  Africa. 

Orang-Utan Simla  satyrus "    Borneo. 

Gray  Gibbon Hylobates  leuciscus " 

II.    OLD  WORLD  MONKEYS  AND  BABOONS. 

Mona  Monkey Ccrcopithecus  mono "  Africa. 

White-Collared  Mangabey .  .  . .  Cercocebus  coUaris " 

Magot :  Barbary  "Ape" -Vacacus  inuus "  N.  Africa. 

Japanese  Red-Faced  Monkey.  fuscatus "  Japan. 

Pig-Tailed  Monkey nemestrlnus "  E.  India. 

Rhesus  Monkey rhesus "  India. 

Entellus  Monkey "         entellus "        " 

Black  "Ape" f'ynopithecus  niger "  Celebes. 

Golden  Baboon Papio  babuin "  N.  Africa. 

Hamadryas '        hamadryas "  Arabia. 

Mandrill mormon "  W.  Africa. 

Gelada Theropithccus    gclada "  Abyssinia. 

III.     NEW  WORLD  MONKEYS. 

White-Throated  Sapajou Ccbus  hypoleucus "    S.  America. 

Red-Faced  Spider  Monkey. . .  A  teles  paniscus " 

White-Headed  Saki Pithecia  leucocephala " 

Yarkee:  Short-Tailed  Monkey .Brachyurus  calva " 

Squirrel  Monkey Chrysothrix  sciurea " 

Common  Marmoset Hapale  jacclius "    "         " 

Douroucoli \yctipithecus  trivirgatus.  .  "    "         " 

IV.     LEMURS  AND  LEMUROIDS. 

Ring-Tailed  Lemur Lemur  catta "  Madagascar. 

Indri Indri  brevicaudata "  India. 

Galago Galago  galago "  Madagascar. 

Slow  Lemur Nyctivebus  tardigradus .  ..."  Madagascar. 

Aye- Aye Cheiromys  madagascariensis"  India. 

Nearly  all  the  above-named  species  are  now  living  in  the 
Primate  House,  besides  which  there  are  many  others.  So 
far  as  the  available  supply  of  captive  primates  will  permit, 
these  typical  species  will  constantly  be  kept  on  exhibition, 
together  with  many  others  equally  interesting.  In  this 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  65 

small  volume  it  is  possible  to  notice  only  the  most  im- 
portant forms. 

The  Gorilla,  (Gorilla  savagei),  of  equatorial  West  Africa, 
is  the  largest  and  ugliest  of  the  great  apes,  walks  erect,  and 
in  form  of  body  and  limbs  it  most  resembles  man.  Its 
brain,  however,  is  less  man-like  than  that  of  the  chimpanzee 
and  orang-utan.  It  is  very  rarely  seen  in  captivity.  The 
only  specimen  which  up  to  1901  had  reached  America  alive 
lived  but  five  days  after  its  arrival.  Despite  the  fact  that 
these  creatures  seldom  live  in  captivity  longer  than  a  few 
months,  they  are  always  being  sought  by  zoological  gardens. 
The  agents  of  the  New  York  Zoological  Society  are  con- 
stantly on  the  watch  for  an  opportunity  to  procure  and  send 
hither  a  good  specimen  of  this  wonderful  creature;  and 
whenever  one  arrives,  all  persons  interested  are  advised  to 
see  it  immediately, — before  it  dies  of  sullenness,  lack  of 
exercise,  and  indigestion. 

The  Orang-Utan  is  intellectually  superior  to  the  gorilla, 
and  is  equalled  only  by  the  chimpanzee.  Unfortunately,  as 
a  rule,  none  of  the  great  apes  is  long-lived  in  captivity, 
and  in  zoological  gardens  they  come  and  go.  For  this  rea- 
son, it  is  seldom  that  an  adult  specimen,  4  feet  in  height, 
and  weighing  150  pounds,  is  seen  in  captivity.  Amongst 
other  apes,  the  Orang-Utan  is  readily  recognized  by  its 
brown  skin,  red  hair  and  small  cars. 

In  disposition  this  creature  is  naturally  docile  and  affec- 
tionate. It  is  fond  of  the  society  of  human  beings,  takes 
to  training  with  wonderful  readiness  and  success,  and  young 
specimens  can  easily  be  taught  to  wear  clothes,  sit  at  table, 
and  eat  with  spoon  and  fork.  In  the  summer  of  1901,  the 
daily  open-air  exhibition  of  "Rajah"  dining  at  4  o'clock 
on  an  elevated  platform  in  front  of  the  Reptile  House,  will 
long  be  remembered  by  the  crowds  of  visitors  who  saw  him. 
Such  exhibitions  are  entirely  germane  to  the  educational 
purposes  of  a  zoological  garden  or  park,  for  they  illustrate 
the  mentality  of  animals,  and  their  wonderful  likeness  to 
man,  far  more  forcibly  than  the  best  printed  statements. 

The  north  hall  of  the  Primate  House  is  specially  in- 
tended for  the  anthropoid  apes,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  any 
lengthy  periods  will  elapse  during  which  it  contains  neither 
orang-utans  nor  chimpanzees. 

The  Chimpanzee,  (Anthropopithccus  calvus),  of  equatorial 
Africa  from  the  west  coast  to  the  central  lake  region,  is 
quite  as  common  in  captivity  as  the  orang-utan.  Both 
structurally  and  mentally  this  animal  is  very  much  like  the 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE 


ORANG-UTAN. 

orang-utan,  and  for  keenness  of  intellect  and  susceptibility 
to  training,  it  is  second  to  none  of  the  animals  lower  than 
man.  A  Chimpanzee  is  easily  recognized  by  its  black  hair 
and  large  ears.  There  are  two  or  three  species. 

The  Gibbon  shows  off  to  poor  advantage  in  a  cage,  but  in 
the  tree-tops  it  is  a  wonderful  creature.  It  is  like  a  long- 
armed  skeleton  clothed  with  skin  and  hair,  animated  by  the 
spirit  of  an  Ariel.  In  its  home  in  the  jungles  of  Borneo  and 
southeastern  Asia,  it  dwells  in  hilly  forests,  and  never 
descends  to  the  earth.  When  attacked,  it  flees  down-hill,  if 
possible,  and  it  seems  actually  to  fly  through  the  tree-tops. 
It  boldly  flings  itself  forward  through  space,  grasps  with  its 
hands  the  first  available  branch,  swings  underneath,  feet 
foremost,  and  after  another  flight  presently  catches  with 
its  feet,  thus  actually  making  revolutions  as  it  goes.  Its 
progress  is  so  swift  and  so  silent  that  successful  pursuit  is 
impossible  to  any  enemy  not  provided  with  wings. 

This  animal  is  naturally  very  timid,  but  does  not  hesitate 
to  expose  itself  to  mortal  danger  when  its  young  are  in 
distress.  In  captivity  gibbons  are  shy  and  nervous,  and 
take  life  very  seriously, 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  67 

The  Baboons  have  been  specially  designed  by  Nature  for 
life  upon  the  ground,  surrounded  by  dangerous  enemies. 
But  for  their  big  canine  teeth,  their  fierce  tempers  and  bull- 
dog courage,  backed  by  a  fine  combination  of  strength 
and  agility,  the  lions,  leopards,  hyenas  and  jackals  of 
Africa  would  have  exterminated  them  all,  ages  ago.  They 
were  not  formed  to  become  hand-organ  beasts  of  burden, 
nor  even  companions  to  man,  but  rather  to  fight  off  their 
enemies,  and  bluff  even  the  king  of  beasts  when  occasion 
requires.  In  captivity,  their  strength  and  ferocity  always 
inspires  respect,  and  sometimes  genuine  terror.  At  all 
times  they  require  to  be  treated  as  dangerous  animals. 

Of  the  various  species  of  baboons  on  exhibition  in  the 
Primate  House,  the  full-grown  Mandrill  is  the  most  inter- 
esting, and  wonderful.  It  seems  like  an  animal  not  of  this 
earth,  and  reminds  the  visitor  of  one  of  the  great  beasts  of 
the  visions  of  St.  John  the  Divine.  The  home  of  this  species 
is  in  West  Africa,  and  it  is  found  from  Senegambia  to  the 
Congo.  The  long  shaggy  hair,  lion-like  appearance,  the 
peculiar  color  markings  of  the  face,  and  the  indescribable 
grimaces,  instantly  fix  the  attention  of  every  visitor. 

The  Hamadryas  Baboon,  with  long  side  whiskers  and 
cape  of  long  hair,  is  one  of  the  handsomest  animals  of  this 
group.  Its  explosive,  ear-racking  cry  is  almost  as  startling 
to  visitors  as  a  cannon-shot. 

The  Golden  Baboon  has  the  liveliest  disposition  and  the 
best  temper  possessed  by  any  baboon.  Young  specimens 
are  full  of  good-natured  mischief,  and  are  much  given  to 
hectoring  their  cage-mates.  The  Long-Armed  Yellow  Ba- 
boon is  quite  at  home  in  the  Primate  House,  and  has  bred 
here.  It  is  a  good  species  to  keep  in  captivity. 

The  Group  of  Old  World  Monkeys  contains  several  spe- 
cies worthy  of  special  remark.  There  are  some  which  have 
tails  so  very  short  and  insignificant  that  they  seem  to  be 
tailless,  and  several  of  them  are  called  "apes."  They  are 
not  true  anthropoids  (man-like  apes),  however,  and  it  is  a 
confusing  error  to  designate  any  of  them  as  "apes."  The 
species  referred  to  are  the  following : 

The  Black  "Ape,"  of  Celebes,  exceedingly  like  a  true 

baboon. 

The  Magot,  or  Barbary  "Ape,"  of  North  Africa  and  Gib- 
raltar, which  is  a  true  macaque. 

The  Japanese  Red-Paced  Monkey,  another  macaque,  with 
a  brilliant  red  face,  and  long,  thick  coat  of  hair,  which 


68 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


CHIMPANZEE,   "POLLY." 

enables  it  to  live  out  of  doors  all  winter,  even  in  this 
Zoological  Park. 

The  Pig-Tailed  Monkey,  several  species  of  which  are 
found  in  Burma  and  other  portions  of  southeastern 
Asia. 

All  the  above  are  on  exhibition  in  the  Primate  House, 
and  the  outdoor  cages. 

The  Rhesus  Monkey,  of  India,  is  one  of  the  sacred  species, 
and  ages  of  immunity  from  molestation,  or  even  wholesome 
discipline,  have  made  this  animal  aggressive  and  domineer- 
ing in  temper. 

The  Bonneted  Macaque  is  the  best-tempered  monkey  of  all 
the  monkey  species  found  in  the  East  Indies,  and  it  is  by 
far  the  best  to  keep  as  a  pet. 


NRW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  69 

The  Entellus  Monkey,  of  India,  is  also  a  sacred  species, 
and  its  natural  seriousness  of  manner,  and  dignified  bearing, 
quite  befit  the  direct  descendants  of  the  original  Hunuman, 
or  monkey  deity  of  the  Hindoos,  who  helped  to  build  Adam's 
Bridge. 

Of  the  many  African  monkeys,  some  of  the  most  showy 
(such  as  the  Guerzas  and  Colobs)  are  so  difficult  to  procure 
they  can  not  be  set  forth  as  permanent  residents  in  the 
Primate  House.  The  following  species,  however,  may  be 
classed  with  the  reliables : 

The  White-Collared  Mangabey  and  Sooty  Mangabey  are 
both  so  lively,  so  good-natured,  and  so  free  from  the  fight- 
ing habit,  they  are  prime  favorites  with  everybody. 

The  Mona  Monkey  is  handsomest  and  easily  kept,  and  an 
excellent  representative  of  the  great  African  genus  Ccrco- 
piihccus. 

The  Green  Monkey  and  the  Vervet  are  lively  but  quarrel- 
some, and  at  times  become  dangerous.  The  Patas,  or  Red 
Monkey,  is  very  sedate,  and  makes  a  good  cage-mate  for  the 


The  New  World  Monkeys,  even  at  their  best,  never  make 
a  strong  showing  in  a  vivarium.  The  trouble  is  that  many 
of  the  most  interesting  species  are  so  delicate  it  is  impossible 
to  keep  them  alive  in  captivity.  Fame  awaits  the  man  who 
can  discover  a  bill  of  fare  on  which  Howling  Monkeys,  Sakis 
and  Yarkees  can  live  in  captivity  to  old  age,  and  repay  their 
cost  and  care.  Their  digestive  organs  are  delicate,  and  are 
subject  to  derangement  from  causes  so  slight  they  can  not 
be  reckoned  with. 

The  Sapajous  are  the  hardiest,  the  most  intelligent  and 
in  some  respects  the  most  interesting  of  the  New  World 
monkeys.  They  all  possess  the  prehensile  (or  grasping) 
tail,  which  is  not  found  on  any  Old  World  monkey,  and  the 
use  made  of  it  is  a  constant  source  of  wonder.  Monkeys  of 
this  species  are  quite  common  in  captivity,  and  their 
wrinkled  brows  and  serious  countenances  give  them  an  ap- 
pearance of  being  burdened  with  cares, — which  most  cap- 
tive monkeys  certainly  are!  These  are  the  unfortunate 
creatures  which  so  often  come  to  grief  on  hand-organs. 

The  Black  Spider  Monkey  and  the  Gray  Spider  Monkey 
represent  a  genus  of  animals  quite  as  attenuated  in  form 
as  the  gibbons.  Their  slender  bodies,  exceedingly  long  and 
slender  legs  and  tail, — the  latter  strongly  prehensile,  and 
better  than  a  fifth  arm  and  hand,— give  them  when  in  the 


70 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


DEAD    GELADA    BABOON*. 

tree-tops  an  appearance  truly  spider-like.  They  are  agile 
climbers,  but  not  rapid  runners,  and  having  no  means  of 
defense  are  very  timid.  Their  stomachs  are  so  simple  they 
seem  to  lack  some  element  or  function  that  is  necessary  to 
the  life  of  the  animal  in  captivity.  Notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  "Jess,"  of  Bath,  New  York,  in  defiance  of  all  laws 
and  precedents,  lived  thirteen  years  in  a  cold  climate,  the 
great  majority  of  spider  monkeys  die  before  they  reach  full 
maturity,  and  nearly  always  of  stomach  troubles.  For- 
tunately, however,  there  are  exceptions  to  this  rule. 

The  Squirrel  Monkey,  often  called  a  "Marmoset,"  is  a 
pretty  little  olive-yellow  monkey,  almost  as  delicate  as  the 
true  Marmosets,  and  the  Pinche.  These  diminutive  crea- 
tures are  so  delicate  they  require  the  greatest  care  and  ten- 
derness, and  thrive  better  in  moderately  small  cages  than 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


71 


RED-HEADED    MANGABki. 

in  large  ones.  True  marmosets  are  the  smallest  of  American 
primates,  being  next  in  size  to  the  Tarsier,  of  Borneo,  small- 
est of  all  quadrumanes. 

The  Lemurs  and  Lemuroids. — A  Lemur  is  a  monkey-like 
animal  belonging  to  the  lowest  group  of  primates,  but  in 
some  respects  is  so  little  like  a  typical  monkey  that  the  rela- 
tionship is  not  always  apparent.  There  are  about  thirty 
species,  and  all  save  a  very  few  are  found  on  the  Island  of 
Madagascar.  They  are  gentle-spirited,  harmless  and  in- 
offensive animals,  and  not  being  persecuted  by  their  human 
neighbors,  as  all  American  wild  animals  are,  they  are  quite 
numerous. 

Nearly  all  of  the  Lemurs  have  long  tails,  long  and  fine 
hair,  large  eyes  and  pointed  muzzles.  Many  of  them  are 
strikingly  colored  in  various  shades  of  black,  white  and 
gray.  All  Lemurs  are  supposed  to  be  of  nocturnal  habit,  and 
in  fact  they  really  are ;  but  the  specimens  in  the  large  jungle 
cage  of  the  Primate  House  are  quite  as  lively  and  interest- 
ing in  the  daytime  as  most  of  the  monkeys.  So  far  from 


72 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


RUFFED   LBMOR. 

manifesting  a  disposition  to  retire  to  dark  corners,   they 
love  to  lie  in  the  sunshine. 

The  Ruffed  Lemur,  or  Black-and-White  Lemur,  (Lemur 
varius),  is  the  handsomest  member  of  this  entire  group. 
Its  fur  is  very  long,  silky,  and  alternately  pure  white  and 
jet  black.  The  Ring-Tailed  Lemur  has  a  very  long,  pointed 
tail,  ornamented  with  about  25  alternating  rings  of  browii 
and  gray,  which  it  carries  very  gracefully.  This  species 
is  of  a  more  lively  disposition  than  most  others.  The  cu- 
rious Indri  has  not  up  to  this  time  come  into  the  collection, 
but  it  is  expected  in  the  near  future.  When  it  arrives  it 
can  at  once  be  recognized  by  the  entire  absence  of  a  tail, 
except  a  mere  stump,  and  by  its  large  hands  and  feet. 


THE  ELEPHANT  HOUSE,  No.  20. 


Of  its  buildings  for  animals,  the  Elephant  House  is  the 
culminating  feature  of  the  Zoological  Park,  and  it  comes 
quite  near  to  being  the  last  of  the  series.  In  token  of  these 
facts,  it  is  fittingly  crowned  with  a  dome.  Through  its  posi- 
tion in  the  general  plan  it  closes  a  wide  gap,  and  effectively 
links  together  the  northern  and  southern  halves  of  the 
establishment. 

The  erection  of  this  great  structure  began  in  1907,  and  the 
building  was  completed  and  its  inmates  housed  in  the  fall 
of  1908.  The  vards  surrounding  the  structure  were  finished 
in  1909. 

Any  building  which  can  comfortably  accommodate  a  rep- 
resentative collection  of  the  largest  of  all  living  land  ani- 
mals, must  unquestionably  be  large  and  substantial.  There 
is  no  pleasure  in  seeing  a  ponderous  elephant  chained  to 
the  floor  of  a  small  room,  unable  even  to  walk  to  and  fro, 
and  never  permitted  to  roam  at  will  in  the  open  air  and  sun- 
light. It  is  no  wonder  that  dungeon-kept  elephants  go  mad, 
and  do  mischief.  If  an  elephant — or  for  that  matter  any 
animal— cannot  be  kept  in  comfortable  captivity,  then  let  it 
not  be  kept  at  all. 

The  Elephant  House  of  the  City  of  New  York  is  a  large 
and  roomy  structure,  built  to  render  good  service  for  two 
centuries.  Its  extreme  length  over  all  is  170  feet,  and  its 
width  is  84  feet.  Its  two  sides  are  divided  into  8  huge 
compartments,  of  which  4  are  for  elephants,  2  for  rhinoc- 
eroses and  2  for  hippopotami.  Each  of  these  is  24x21% 
feet. 

The  Hippopotami  have  within  the  building  a  tank  24x21 
feet,  and  8  feet  in  total  depth;  and  another  will  be  con- 
structed in  their  corral. 

Each  end  of  the  building  furnishes  two  cages  of  smaller 
dimensions,  for  tapirs,  and  young  elephants.  The  whole 
area  surrounding  the  building,  excepting  the  axial  walk,  is 
devoted  to  open-air  yards,  so  arranged  that  each  cage  in  the 
interior  connects  directly  with  a  corral  which  affords  both 
sunshine  and  shade.  Nature  seems  to  have  made  this  beau- 
tiful open  grove — strangely  free  from  trees  in  its  center — 
especially  for  the  purposes  to  which  it  now  is  devoted. 

73 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  75 

It  is  by  no  means  the  intention  of  the  Zoological  Society, 
that,  because  an  axial  walk  leads  through  the  Elephant 
House,  the  building  shall  be  used  as  a  thoroughfare  for  foot 
traffic  between  the  northern  and  southern  portions  of  the 
Park.  Such  use  would  surely  defeat  the  main  purpose  of 
the  structure.  It  is  intended  to  be  entered  only  by  persons 
ivho  desire  to  see  the  animals,  and  all  others  must  pass  around 
it,  by  one  or  the  other  of  the  two  very  direct  promenades 
which  will  be  provided.  The  employees  of  the  Park  are 
strictly  forbidden  to  consider  the  walk  through  the  build- 
ing as  a  convenient  highway,  and  visitors  are  requested  to 
observe  the  obvious  necessities  of  this  case. 

The  Indian  Elephant,  (Elephas  indicus),  is  the  universal 
elephant  of  captivity,  the  African  species  being  known  only 
as  a  great  rarity.  For  every  elephant  that  comes  from 
Africa,  about  thirty  come  from  India,  and  of  those  about 
twenty-nine  are  prosy  and  unromantic  females.  In  order 
to  secure  a  male  Indian  Elephant,  it  must  be  specially 
ordered. 

Our  first  Indian  Elephant,  a  fine  male  named  "Gunda," 
was  caught  wild  in  the  interior  of  Assam,  northeastern  In- 
dia, and  he  arrived  at  the  Zoological  Park  in  May,  1904, 
as  the  gift  of  Col.  Oliver  H.  Payne.  He  was  then  about 
seven  years  old.  He  stood  6  feet  7  inches  in  shoulder 
height,  weighed  3,740  pounds,  and  had  all  the  points  of  a 
"high-caste"  elephant.  His  tusks  were  then  16  inches  long. 

When  he  reached  the  Park,  his  education  was  nearly  all 
before  him,  but  he  was  trained  so  rapidly  that  on  August 
14,  1904,  he  began  to  carry  visitors,  and  thus  far  has  never 
made  a  mistake.  On  all  afternoons,  when  the  weather  is 
sufficiently  warm,  he  may  be  found  at  the  riding-animals' 
stand,  near  the  Flying  Cage,  on  duty ;  and  he  appears  to 
enjoy  his  work.  Although  very  mischievous  about  break- 
ing anything  in  his  quarters  that  is  breakable,  he  is  by  'no 
means  bad-tempered.  Like  most  Indian  elephants,  "Gun- 
da"  is  very  intelligent.  In  two  days  he  was  taught  to 
receive  pennies,  lift  the  lid  of  his  "bank,"  drop  the  coin 
within,  "and  ring  his  bell. 

Since  his  arrival  here,  in  May,  1904,  he  has  grown  in 
height  at  the  rate  of  about  5  inches  each  year.  On  April  1. 
1907,  he  stood  7  feet  T1/^  inches  in  shoulder  height,  his  weight 
was  6,200  pounds,  and  his  tusks  were  2Sl/o  inches  long. 

The  Sudan  African  Elephant,  (Elephas  oxyotis,  Matschie), 
is  the  largest  of  the  four  species  of  African  elephants  now 


76  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

recognized.  The  other  species  are  the  South  African  Ele- 
phant, (E.  capensis),  the  German-East-African  Elephant, 
(E.  knochcnJiaiteri),  and  the  West  African  Elephant,  (E. 
cyclotis). 

After  some  years  of  waiting,  and  many  futile  efforts,  we 
have  at  last  come  into  possession  of  a  pair  of  young  Sudan 
Elephants,  representing,  so  we  believe,  the  great  species  to 
which  belonged  Jumbo,  and  also  the  bearer  of  the  enormous 
tusks  presented  to  the  Zoological  Society  by  Mr.  Charles  T. 
Barney.  Like  all  elephants  newly  arrived  from  Africa, 
they  are  young,  and  small;  but  if  they  have  good  health 
they  will  grow  very  rapidly,  and  about  A.  D.  1927  they 
should  attain  full  stature, — 11  feet  at  the  shoulders  for  the 
male,  or  thereabouts. 

The  different  species  of  elephants  are  most  easily  recog- 
nized by  their  ears.  Compare  the  enormous  "sail-area"  of 
the  ears  of  this  species  with  the  small,  triangular  ear  of  the 
Indian  elephant,  and  the  small,  round  ear  of  the  next  species. 

The  West  African  Elephant,  (Elephas  cyclotis},  of  equa- 
torial West  Africa,  especially  the  Congo  country,  is  appar- 
ently a  small  species,  not  exceeding  seven  feet  in  height, — 
even  if  that  height  ever  is  attained.  Mr.  Carl  Hagenbeck  re- 
ports that  out  of  nearly  300  pairs  of  tusks  of  this  species 
examined  by  him  in  the  German  ivory  market,  not  one  pair 
exceeded  two  feet  in  length,  and  many  measured  only  10 
inches. 

On  July  25,  1905,  we  received  a  male  specimen  represent- 
ing this  species,  as  a  gift  from  Mr.  Barney.  It  is  strikingly 
marked  by  its  small  round  ears,  and  the  presence  of  5  toes 
on  each  fore-foot  and  4  on  the  hind  foot,  the  number  in  the 
East  African  species  being  4  and  3,  respectively.  At  the 
time  of  its  arrival,  little  ' '  Congo ' '  stood  43  inches  in  shoulder 
height,  his  weight  was  precisely  600  pounds,  and  his  tusks 
were  4  inches  long.  Owing  to  a  peculiar  skin  disease  which 
he  brought  with  him  from  Africa,  his  growth  has  been  re- 
tarded, and  thus  far  his  increase  in  height  has  not  been 
satisfactory. 

Regarding  the  life  history  and  distribution  of  this  odd 
species,  much  remains  to  be  ascertained;  and  precise  in- 
formation is  greatly  desired. 

The  African  Two-Horned  Rhinoceros,  (Rhinoceros  bicor- 
nis),  is  already  represented  by  two  fine  young  specimens, 
both  of  which  were  acquired  in  1906.  Fortunately  one  is  a 
male  and  the  other  a  female.  The  former  is  a  gift  from  Mr. 
Frederick  G.  Bourne.  The  female  was  captured  in  July, 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  77 


YOUNG  AFRICAN"  TWO-HORNED  RHINOCEROS. 

1905,  in  the  northern  point  of  German  East  Africa,  within 
about  sixty  miles  of  the  head  of  Speke  Gulf,  which  is  the 
southeastern  arm  of  Lake  Victoria  Nyanza.  The  elevation 
.is  between  4,000  and  5,000  feet.  It  was  slung  under  a  pole, 
"and  carried,  six  days'  journey  on  men's  shoulders,  to  the 
shore  of  the  lake. 

The  male  specimen  was  captured  very  near  the  same  spot 
.which  furnished  the  female,  but  one  year  later,  (July,  1906), 
and  in  the  same  manner  was  carried  to  the  lake  front.  From 
thence,  both  animals  were  transported  by  steamer  to  'Port 
Florence,  at  the  head  of  the  Uganda  Railway,  thence  by 
rail  500  miles  to  Mombasa. 

On  April  1,  1907,  the  male  Rhinoceros,— which  has  been 
named  "Speke," — was  30^4  inches  in  shoulder  height,  and 
the  female,  christened  "Victoria,"  was  39  inches  high.  Both 
animals  are  now  in  excellent  health,  and  the  latter  has 
grown  very  rapidly  since  her  arrival  here. 
.  The  African  Two-Horned  Rhinoceros  once  was  very  abun- 
dant throughout  the  whole  of  the  fertile  plains  region  of 
east  and  south  Africa,  but  the  onslaughts  of  hunters  have 
exterminated  it  from  probably  nine-tenths  of  the  territory 
that  it  once  occupied.  To-day,  the  Englishmen  of  Africa  are 
earnestly  endeavoring  to  regulate  and  abate  the  slaughter 


78 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


HIPPOPOTAMUS. 

of  African  big  game,  and  beyond  doubt  safe,  good  results 
in  that  line  are  being  accomplished.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
the  protection  lines  will  now  be  drawn  so  tightly  around 
the  game  that  remains  that  it  will  be  perpetuated  for  cen- 
turies to  come. 

The  Indian  Rhinoceros,  (Rhinoceros  unicornis). — A  full- 
grown  Indian  Rhinoceros  is  one  of  the  most  wonderful  of  all 
living  animals.  It  seems  like  a  prehistoric  monster,  belong- 
ing to  the  days  of  the  dinosaurs,  rather  than  a  creature  of 
to-day ;  and  the  killing  of  so  grand  a  creature  solely  for  the 
sake  of  "sport,"  and  a  stuffed  head  to  hang  upon  a  wall,  is 
murder,  no  less.  It  is  quite  time  that  the  most  wonderful 
works  of  animated  Nature  should  universally  be  recognized 
as  safe  from  attack  with  the  rifle  and  knife. 

So  pronounced  is  the  rarity  of  the  great  Indian  Rhinoceros, 
it  is  a  fact  that  for  nearly  fifteen  years  no  living  specimens 
came  into  the  wild-animal  market.  At  last,  however,  the  per- 
sistence and  industry  of  the  renowned  Carl  Hagenbeck  was 
rewarded  by  the  capture,  in  1906,  of  four  young  specimens, 
all  of  which  reached  Hamburg  in  May,  1907.  One  of  the 
best  specimens  of  the  quartette  was  purchased  for  the  New 
York  Zoological  Park,  and  its  arrival  at  the  Park  is  expected 


NEW   YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


79 


SOUTH    AMERICAN    TAPIR. 


to  be  coincident  with  the  issue  of  this  edition  of  the  Guide 
Book  to  the  members  of  the  Society. 

The  Indian  One-Horned  Rhinoceros  is  the  largest  of  all  liv- 
ing rhinoceroses.  A  full-grown  male  is  about  5  feet,  6  inches 
in  shoulder  height,  and  10  feet  6  inches  long  from  end  of 
nose  to  root  of  tail.  The  length  of  the  horn  is  not  great, 
rarely  exceeding  12  inches.  The  skin  is  very  thick,  and  lies 
upon  the  animal  in  great  rigid  slabs  which  are  divided  by 
articulating  areas  of  thinner  skin. 

This  species  now  is  so  greatly  reduced  in  number  and  in 
area  that  it  is  found  only  in  a  small  portion  of  northeastern 
India,  and  is  practically  restricted  to  the  plains  of  Assam.  It 
dislikes  hills,  and  inhabits  the  swampy  plains  that  are  thickly 
covered  with  high,  coarse  grass  and  brush.  In  disposition  it 
is  by  no  means  savage  or  dangerous  to  man. 

The  Hippopotamus,  (Hippopotamus  amphibius),  is  more 
frequently  seen  in  captivity  than  any  of  the  large  rhinoce- 
roses, or  the  African  elephant.  In  the  lakes  and  large  rivers 
of  central  East  Africa  it  still  exists  in  fair  numbers,  and 
still  is  killed  for  "sport." 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  very  inert  and  usually  leth- 
argic monster  can,  under  what  it  deems  just  provocation, 
become  very  angry,  and  even  dangerous.  Four  years  ago, 


80  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

in  one  of  the  rivers  of  Uganda,  a  hippopotamus  not  only 
overturned  a  boat,  but  killed  one  of  its  native  occupants  by 
biting  him.  , 

The  Hippopotamus  breeds  readily  in  captivity,  even  under 
poor  conditions,  and  the  supply  for  the  zoological  gardens 
of  the  world  is  chiefly  maintained  in  that  way.  The  fine 
male  specimen  exhibited  in  the  Zoological  Park  was  pur- 
chased from  the  Central  Park  Menagerie,  for  $3,000,  and  is 
a  gift  from  Mr.  Samuel  Thorne.  He  was  born  on  July  13, 
1904.  His  weight  on  July  14,  1906,  at  two  years  of  age, 
was  1,700  pounds ;  and  he  is  growing  rapidly. 

The  Tapirs.— Near  the  end  of  the  Order  of  Hoofed  Ani- 
mals, (Ungnlata),  is  found  the  Tapir  Family,  represented 
in  both  the  old  world  and  the  new,  by  about  five  species. 
These  very  odd  creatures  inhabit  the  densest  forests  of  the 
tropics,  where  vegetation  grows  rankly,  and  few  other  large 
hoofed  animals  can  live.  They  are  very  fond  of  water,  and 
swim  well.  Until  the  Elephant  House  is  ready,  one  pair  of 
Tapirs  will  be  found  in  the  Antelope  House. 

The  South  American  Tapir,  (Tapirus  terrestris),  takes 
kindly  to  captivity,  breeds  in  confinement,  and  always  man- 
ages to  look  well-fed  and  as  sleek  as  a  seal.  Its  color  is  a 
rich  mahogany  brown,  and  its  long,  prehensile  nose  is 
strongly  suggestive  of  the  end  of  an  elephant's  trunk.  The 
shoulder  height  of  a  full-grown  animal  is  about  37  inches. 
This  species  inhabits  Venezuela,  the  Guianas,  Brazil,  Para- 
guay, Uruguay  and  some  other  regions  of  South  America. 
Some  of  the  Central  American  Tapirs  inhabit  mountain  re- 
gions, but  all  are  exceedingly  wary,  and  difficult  to  find 
without  dogs. 

The  Malay  Tapir,  (Tapirus  indicus},  of  the  Malay  Penin- 
sula and  Sumatra,  may  be  recognized  as  far  as  it  can  be  seen, 
by  its  colors.  The  front  half  of  the  animal,  and  its  legs, 
are  black  or  dark  brown,  and  the  rear  half  of  the  body  is 
white.  It  is  much  larger  than  the  preceding  species.  No. 
specimens  will  be  shown  prior  to  the  occupancy  of  the 
Elephant  House. 


THE  WOLF  DENS,  No.  22. 


At  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  Elk  Range  there  is  a 
huge,  bare  granite  rock,  two  hundred  feet  long,  shaped  pre- 
cisely like  the  hump  of  a  bull  buffalo.  The  high  end  of  the 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  81 

hump  is  toward  the  north,  and  its  crest  is  about  fifteen  feet 
above  the  ground  on  its  eastern  side.  A  fringe  of  small 
trees  and  bushes  grows  along  its  western  side.  On  the  east 
side,  well  sheltered  by  the  rock  itself  from  the  cold  west 
winds  of  winter,  and  also  shaded  by  several  fine  trees  which 
most  opportunely  grow  close  beside  the  ledge,  the  Wolf 
Dens  and  Fox  Dens  are  situated. 

In  regard  to  the  iron  work,  these  dens  are  merely  an 
understudy  of  the  Bear  Dens.  The  dimensions  of  each  den 
of  the  series  are  16  by  48  feet,  and  the  height  of  the  bars  to 
the  top  of  the  overhang  is  9  feet  6  inches.  The  sleeping 
dens  are  of  simple  construction,  all  save  one  being  of  wood, 
trimmed  with  bark-covered  slabs.  At  present  the  Wolf 
Dens  are  divided  into  four  compartments. 

The  Gray  Wolf,  (Canis  nnbilis),  is  known  by  as  many 
names  as  it  has  color  phases.  In  the  North,  where  it  is 
white,  it  is  called  the  "White  Wolf,"  while  in  Florida  it 
becomes  the  "Black  Wolf."  In  British  Columbia  and 
around  Great  Slave  Lake,  both  white  and  black  wolves 
abound,  as  well  as  the  standard  gray,  but  on  the  Barren 
Grounds  the  white  phase  predominates.  In  Texas  a  "Red 
Wolf"  is  found,  but  apparently  the  red  phase  is  of  somewhat 
rare  occurrence,  and  is  never  found  in  the  North. 

In  the  West  this  animal  has  recently  come  into  prominence 
in  a  way  that  is  striking  terror  to  the  hearts  of  ranchmen 
and  others  who  have  stock  to  lose.  While  all  kinds  of  de- 
sirable game  animals  are  decreasing  at  an  alarming  rate, 
the  Gray  Wolf  not  only  holds  its  own,  but  is  multiplying 
rapidly.  The  destruction  by  it  of  calves,  colts,  and  sheep, 
has  become  so  great  that  nearly  every  western  state  has 
placed  on  the  head  of  this  bold  marauder  a  bounty  varying 
from  $2  to  $10.  In  some  States  this  law  has  been  in  force 
for  several  years,  but  with  no  sensible  diminution  in  the 
number  of  wolves. 

The  Gray  Wolves  which  live  in  touch  with  civilization  are 
by  no  means  such  bold  and  dangerous  animals  as  they  for- 
merly were.  In  the  early  days,  when  wolves  were  numerous 
and  fire-arms  few  and  primitive,  the  Gray  Wolf  undoubtedly 
was  a  dangerous  animal.  But  the  breech-loading  rifle  has 
changed  all  this.  Excepting  for  his  stock-killing  propensi- 
ties, the  Gray  Wolf  is  now  a  skulking  creature.  In  the 
United  States  this  animal  possesses  the  courage  of  a  coyote, 
but  in  the  Barren  Grounds  it  is  still  fierce  and  dangerous. 
However  much  the  wolf  may  skulk  and  flee  when  the  way  is 
<jpen,  when  brought  to  bay  he  knows  how  to  fight.  One 
snap  of  his  powerful  jaws  and  shear-like  teeth  is  enough  to 


82  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


TASMANIA*  WOLF. 

disable  almost  any  dog,  and  send  it  howling  to  the  rear. 
It  is  no  wonder  that  western  dogs  of  experience  are  shy  of 
approaching  a  Gray  Wolf  within  snapping  distance. 

Excepting  the  localities  from  which  it  has  been  driven 
.out  by  civilization,  the  Gray  Wolf  ranges  over  the  whole 
North  American  continent  from  central  Mexico  to  83°  24'  N. 

The  Coyote,  or  Prairie  Wolf,  (Canis  latrans),  is  a  personal 
acquaintance  of  nearly  every  trans-continental  traveler.  To 
those  who  have  camped  on  the  "plains,"  he  is  quite  like 
an  old  friend ;  and  the  high-pitched,  staccato  cry — half  howl 
and  half  bark — with  which  he  announces  the  dawn,  is  asso- 
ciated with  memories  of  vast  stretches  of  open  country, 
magnificent  distances,  sage-brush  and  freedom.  Because 
of  his  fondness  of  barking,  Thomas  Say,  the  naturalist  who 
first  described  this  species,  christened  it,  Canis  latrans,  which 
means  "barking  wolf." 

This  animal  averages  about  one-third  smaller  than  the 
gray  wolf,  and  while  the  finest  male  specimens  are,  in  the 
autumn,  really  handsome  animals,  at  other  times  the  major- 
ity are  of  very  ordinary  appearance.  At  no  time,  however, 
even  in  the  dark,  is  a  Coyote  a  courageous  animal.  So  far 
as  man  is  concerned,  a  band  of  a  thousand  coyotes  would  be 
as  easily  put  to  flight  as  one ;  but  in  hanging  upon  the  ragged 
edges  of  civilization,  and  living  by  its  wits,  the  Coyote  is 
audacity  itself.  By  inheritance,  and  also  by  personal  ex- 
perience this  animal  knows  to  a  rod  how  far  it  is  safe  to 
trust  a  man  with  a  gun.  If  the  hunter  has  left  his  gun 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  83 

behind  him,  the  Coyote  knows  it  at  once,  and  boldly  flaunts 
himself  within  stone 's  throw  of  his  enemy. 

The  Coyote  varies  in  color  quite  markedly,  exhibiting  the 
gray,  brown  and  black  phases.  Formerly  it  was  supposed 
that  one  species  comprehended  all,  but  Dr.  Merriam's  series 
of  specimens  from  all  parts  of  the  West  and  Southwest  have 
led  him  to  separate  these  animals  into  eleven  species. 


THE  FOX  DENS,  No.  23. 


Of  the  many  species  of  foxes  found  in  North  America, 
three  species  stand  forth  as  the  types  of  prominent  groups, 
and  it  is  very  desirable  that  all  three  should  be  well  known. 

The  Red  Fox,  (Vulpes  fulvus),  is  the  representative  of  the 
group  which  contains  also  the  cross  fox  and  black  fox  of 
the  Northwest.  In  spite  of  dogs,  traps,  guns,  spades  and 
poison,  this  cunning  creature  persists  in  living  in  close 
touch  with  the  poultry  yards  of  civilized  man.  His  perfect 
familiarity  with  old-fashioned  dangers  enables  him  to  avoid 
them  all,  and  no  sooner  does  a  new  danger  menace  him,  than 
he  promptly  invents  a  way  to  escape  it.  The  manner  in 
which  the  Red  Fox  lives  with  civilization  without  being  ex- 
terminated really  is  surprising,  and  speaks  volumes  for  the 
astuteness  of  this  animal. 

The  geographical  range  of  the  Red  Fox  is  very  wide.  From 
North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  it  extends  northward  through 
the  whole  northeastern  United  States,  gradually  bearing 
westward  to  Montana,  and  northward  almost  to  the  Arctic 
Ocean.  It  is  the  commonest  species  in  Alaska,  where  it  is 
found  practically  everywhere. 

The  typical  Red  Fox,  and  its  two  subspecies,  the  Cross  Fox, 
( Vulpes  fulvus  decussatus) ,  and  the  Black  Fox,  ( V .  f.  argen- 
tatus] — the  latter  many  times  miscalled  the  "Silver  Fox"- 
vary  in  all  possible  gradations  of  color  from  bright  red  to 
pure  black.  Often  it  is  difficult  to  decide  where  one  species 
leaves  off  and  another  begins.  The  Cross  Fox  stands  mid- 
way between  the  Red  and  Black,  with  some  of  the  yellow 
color  of  the  former  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  behind  the 
foreleg,  while  the  remainder  of  the  general  color  is  grizzled 
gray-brown  laid  across  his  shoulders  in  a  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct cross.  The  Black  Fox  varies  in  color  from  very  dark 
iron-gray  to  dark  brown  or  black,  with  a  slight  wash  of 
white-tipped  hairs  over  the  head,  body  and  tail.  The  tip  of 


84  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

the  tail  is  always  white,  which  is  the  only  constant  color 
mark  about  him. 

The  Swift,  or  Kit  Fox,  (Vulpes  velo.?},  is  the  daintiest, 
smallest  and  liveliest  of  all  American  foxes.  From  his  del- 
icate little  nose  to  the  tip  of  his  well-trimmed  tail,  he  is 
every  inch  a  thoroughbred.  His  countenance  is  bright  and 
pert,  and  when  several  specimens  are  kept  together  they 
are  very  playful.  One  striking  feature  of  this  little  animal 
is  what  may  well  be  termed  its  trimness.  When  in  fair  con- 
dition, its  coat  of  thick,  silvery  gray  fur  is  as  smooth  and 
even  as  if  recently  trimmed  by  a  barber. 

On  the  western  plains,  where  it  once  had  for  companions 
the  buft'alo  and  prong-horn,  the  Swift  is  becoming  rare.  Its 
worst  enemy  is  the  deadly  strychnine  bottle  of  the  ranch- 
man. This  species  does  not  thrive  in  the  Fox  Dens,  and  it 
will  be  found  in  the  Burrowing  Animal 's  Quarters,  where  it 
seems  pleased  to  consider  itself  at  home. 

In  the  Small-Mammal  House  is  shown  a  new  species, 
closely  allied  to  the  above,  from  Phoenix,  Arizona,  recently 
described  by  Dr.  C.  H.  Merriam  as  Vulpes  macrotis,  or  the 
Large-Eared  Swift. 

The  Gray  Fox,  (Urocyon  virginianus) ,  is  the  fox  of  the 
South,  even  though  it  does  range  northward  well  into  the 
territory  of  the  red  fox.  This  species  is  distinctly  smaller 
and  more  lightly  built  than  the  red,  its  hair  is  not  so  luxu- 
riant, it  is  more  shy  and  retiring,  and  its  colors  change  very 
little.  When  hotly  pursued  by  dogs  it  oftens  climbs  trees 
that  are  quite  perpendicular,  to  a  height  of  twenty  feet  or 
more.  In  captivity  Gray  Foxes  are  forever  trying  to  escape 
by  climbing,  instead  of  by  burrowing,  as  would  naturally  be 
expected.  In  temper,  they  are  treacherous  to  their  keepers, 
and  also  to  each  other,  and  as  "pets"  are  anything  but 
desirable. 

The  Tasmanian  Wolf,  or  Thylacine,  (Thylacinus  cyno- 
cephalus}. — In  the  most  southerly  yard  of  the  Fox  Dens  will 
be  found  a  very  strange-looking  and  interesting  creature, 
about  the  size  of  a  pointer  dog.  Its  color  is  dark  yellowish 
brown,  and  it  has  a  series  of  broad  black  stripes,  or  bands, 
running  across  its  hind  quarters  and  loins.  The  wide  gape 
of  its  mouth  reminds  one  of  an  iguana  or  a  monitor. 

This  animal,  fully  named  above,  is  the  largest  of  the  car- 
nivorous marsupials  of  Australia,  and  the  female  possesses 
an  abdominal  pouch  in  which  she  carries  her  young,  like  a 
kangaroo.  It  is  now  found  only  in  Tasmania,  and  it  dwells 
amongst  rocks,  in  rugged  and  mountainous  regions.  Be- 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  85 

cause  of  its  depredations  upon  the  sheep  herds,  the  Thyla- 
cine  has  been  diligently  hunted  and  destroyed,  and  now 
living  specimens  rarely  are  taken. 

In  the  zoological  gardens  of  Europe  and  America,  this 
species  usually  is  kept  in  heated  buildings;  but  having 
ascertained  by  experiment  that  this  specimen  thrives  best  in 
the  open  air,  it  is  kept  all  the  year  round  in  one  of  the  Fox 
Dens,  where  it  has  lived  comfortably  for  four  years. 


THE  OTTER  POOLS,  No.  31. 


The  American  Otter,  (Lutra  canadensis) ,  is  unfortunate 
in  being  the  bearer  of  valuable  fur;  and  in  the  northern 
regions,  where  the  cold  causes  the  development  of  fur  that 
is  available  for  the  use  of  the  furrier,  this  creature  is  so 
nearly  extinct  that  trappers  no  longer  pursue  it.  In  the 
southern  states,  where  its  fur  is  short,  rather  coarse  and 
"off  color,"  the  Otter  still  is  found.  In  some  portions  of 
eastern  Florida,  and  along  the  coast  of  South  Carolina,  it  is 
frequently  taken.  In  captivity  it  often  becomes  quite  tame, 
even  affectionate,  and  always  is  interesting.  Unless  closely 
confined,  however,  it  is  prone  to  wander,  and  meet  premature 
death. 

In  captivity  the  Otter  usually  is  active  and  restless,  and 
very  much  in  evidence.  Owing  to  the  strength  of  its  jaws, 
its  ability  to  climb  under  certain  conditions  and  its  restless 
activity,  it  is  difficult  to  confine  a  full-grown  otter  in  any- 
thing else  than  a  complete  box  of  iron  cage-work. 

Few  persons  save  woodsmen  and  naturalists  are  aware  of 
the  fact  that  in  a  wild  state  the  Otter  is  a  very  playful  ani- 
mal, and  is  as  fond  of  sliding  down  hill,  over  a  wet  and 
muddy  slide,  with  a  water  plunge  at  the  bottom,  as  any 
young  person  is  of  "shooting  the  chutes."  Like  the  small 
boy  with  the  sled  and  a  snowy  hillside,  the  Otter  sometimes 
indulges  in  its  sliding  pastime  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  with  a 
keen  relish  for  the  sport  that  is  quite  evident  to  all  who  have 
ever  watched  it. 

The  Otter  is  a  carnivorous  animal,  and  in  a  wild  state 
lives  upon  fish,  frogs,  crabs,  young  birds,  small  mammals, 
and,  in  fact,  about  any  living  thing  which  it  can  catch. 

The  Coypu  Rat,  (Myopotamus  coypu),  of  Central  and 
South  America,  is  interesting  because  of  the  fact  that  it  is 
the  largest  of  all  rats  or  rat-like  animals.  In  its  habits  it 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  87 

is  as  fond  of  water  as  the  musk-rat.  It  is  sufficiently  clothed 
with  fur  to  endure  outdoor  life  in  the  Park,  even  in  winter, 
and  it  has  been  acclimatized  here  in  one  of  the  other  pools. 
It  breeds  persistently,  and  thrives  in  captivity,  provided  it  is 
treated  as  it  should  be. 


THE  SMALL-MAMMAL  HOUSE,  No.  35. 


The  new  Small-Mammal  House,  erected  and  occupied  in 
1905,  is  a  very  different  structure  from  the  temporary  build- 
ing which  formerly  occupied  the  site.  The  present  building 
is  a  twin  of  the  Ostrich  House,  and  in  it  much  effort  has  been 
expended  in  devising  ways  and  means  to  keep  its  living 
inhabitants  clean,  odorless  and  in  good  health.  Owing,  how- 
ever, to  the  musky  odors  secreted  by  many  of  the  civet  cats 
and  members  of  the  Marten  Family,  it  is  beyond  human 
power  to  keep  a  large  collection  such  as  this  building  con- 
tains without  a  certain  amount  of  wild-animal  odor. 

Most  difficult  of  all  collections  to  settle  satisfactorily  in  a 
modern  zoological  park  or  garden  is  the  great  omnium 
gatherum  of  small  species — and  some  large  ones,  also — which 
fall  within  the  meaning  of  the  term  "small  mammals."  The 
number  of  mammalian  miscellanea  which  can  not  have  build- 
ings all  their  own  is  really  very  great.  In  addition  to  that 
there  are  always  with  us  a  considerable  number  of  young 
and  tender  animals  which  require  small  quarters,  and  close 
attention.  The  visitor  will  therefore  always  find  in  the 
Small-Mammal  House  a  great  array  of  viverrine  animals,  of 
tropical  squirrels  and  other  small  rodents,  of  mustelines, 
the  nasuas,  the  small  marsupials,  young  leopards,  the  lynxes 
and  their  relatives,  baby  bears,  and  many  other  species. 

Attention  is  invited  to  the  great  variety  of  cages  in  and 
around  this  building,  of  which  there  are  five  different  types. 
The  total  number  is  176.  All  those  on  the  western  side  are 
adjustable  as  to  their  bottoms  and  sides,  so  that  it  is  easy 
to  throw  several  cages  into  one,  and  make  cages  either 
very  long  or  very  high.  The  idea  of  the  collapsible  cage, 
and  also  the  general  plan  of  it,  has  been  copied  from  the 
model  developed  and  in  use  in  the  Zoological  Garden  of 
Frankfort,  Germany,  by  Director  A.  Seitz,  to  whom  this 
acknowledgment  is  justly  due.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
every  animal  in  this  building  enjoys  the  use  of  an  outdoor 
cage,  which  connects  directly  with  its  interior  quarters, 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


Of  such  an  odd  mixture  of  animals  as  we  are  now  to  con- 
sider, anything  like  a  perfect  systematic  zoological  arrange- 
ment is  a  practical  impossibility ;  but  as  far  as  it  is  possible, 
we  will  take  up  the  animals  by  groups. 

On  the  whole,  the  most  striking  animals  in  the  Small- 
Mammal  House  are  the  small  cats  and  lynxes.  Of  the 
spotted  cats,  the  Serval,  (Felis  serval),  of  Africa,  is  one  of 
the  rarest.  Its  long,  slender  legs,  small  head,  slender  body 
and  round  spots  proclaim  it  a  near  relative  to  the  cheetah. 
The  Clouded  Leopards,  (F.  nebulosa),  are  now  dead,  but  in- 
asmuch as  they  will  be  replaced,  it  is  well  to  point  out  that 
the  species  referred  to  is  one  of  the  most  beautifully  marked 
of  all  parti-colored  cats.  It  is  a  native  of  Burma  and 
Malayana  as  far  south  as  Borneo  and  Java.  In  total  length 
this  interesting  and  very  rare  species  is  from  66  to  70  inches, 
and  its  enormously  long  and  curved  canines  are  suggestive 
of  the  canines  of  the  sabre-toothed  tiger. 

The  Jungle  Cat,  (F.  bengalensis),  is  a  small  and  incon- 
spicuous type,  as  befits  an  animal  which  lives  by  stealth  in 
densely  populated  regions.  The  Ocelot,  (Felis  pardalis),  of 
South  and  Central  America,  is  a  small  spotted  cat  which 
very  often  is  called  a  "young  jaguar."  In  size  it  is  the 
third  largest  Felis  of  the  American  continent;  but  for  all 
that,  it  is  so  small  that  an  adult  specimen  would  not  make 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  89 

more  than  one  square  meal  for  a  hungry  jaguar.  It  is 
found  from  southern  Texas  to  southern  Brazil. 

The  little  Margay  Cat,  (F.  tigrina],  is  our  smallest  and 
also  rarest  spotted  cat.  It  is  no  larger  than  a  good-sized 
domestic  cat,  and  its  tawny  ground-color  is  marked  all  over 
with  round  spots.  The  rarest  American  feline  in  our  pos- 
session is  the  queer,  otter-like  Yaguarimdi  Cat,  (F.  yagua- 
rondi) :  of  a  uniform  gray-brown  color,  without  spots.  It 
is  found  in  southern  Texas  and  Mexico,  and  is  so  seldom  seen 
in  captivity  that  comparatively  few  persons  north  of  the 
Rio  Grande  are  aware  of  its  existence.  Our  specimen  came 
from  Brownsville,  Texas. 

The  Bay  Lynx,  Red  Lynx,  or  Wild  Cat,  (Lynx  rufus),  is 
the  smallest  of  American  Lynxes,  arid  it  is  the  one  that  in- 
habits the  United  States  eastward  of  the  great  plains.  Until 
further  notice,  this  species  will  be  found  in  the  Small-Mam- 
mal House.  It  may  have  a  few  dark  spots,  or  none  at  all. 
Its  color  varies  so  greatly  that  it  is  at  times  impossible  to 
determine  where  this  «peeies  leaves  off,  and  the  more  heavily 
spotted  subspecies  of  the  southwest  takes  its  place.  The 
latter  is  known  as  the  Spotted  Lynx,  (L.  r.  maculatns). 

Young  Leopards  and  Jaguars. — Owing  to  the  necessity  of 
keeping  young  animals  of  the  large  feline  species  in  cages  of 
proper  size  to  best  meet  their  wants  in  early  life,  the  Small- 
Mammal  House  may  be  expected  to  contain,  at  any  and  all 
times,  a  small  assortment  of  young  leopards,  jaguars,  pumas, 
or  even  tigers  and  lions.  At  this  date  it  contains  a  fine 
young  Jaguar,  procured  in  the  State  of  Sonora,  Mexico,  and 
presented  by  Mrs.  Arthur  Curtiss  James.  It  is  growing 
rapidly,  and  becoming  so  assertive  in  temper  that  ere  long 
it  will  require  to  be  removed  to  the  Lion  House.  There  are 
also  here  two  fine  young  Leopards. 

The  large  and  important  group  of  Viverrines,  or  long- 
faced  cat-like  carnivores  of  the  East  Indies,  (Family  Viver- 
ridae),  is  well  represented.  It  is  the  true  Civets  which  fur- 
nish— some  of  them — the  evil-smelling  civet  of  commerce — 
an  odor  which  we  would  gladly  do  without.  The  Common 
Civet-Cat,  (Viverra  zibetha),  is  the  best  known  member  of 
this  Family,  and  it  is  easily  recognized  by  its  large  size, 
heavily-spotted  body  and  ring-streaked  tail.  It  is  common 
throughout  the  Malay  Peninsula,  and  in  many  other  portions 
of  the  Malay  Archipelago.  The  larger  Malayan  Civet-Cat, 
(V .  malaccensis],  strongly  resembles  its  understudy,  but  its 
black  spots  and  blotches  are  larger  and  more  intense,  and  in 
form  it  is  much  more  robust. 


90 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


HYAENA  DOG. 

The  large  and  handsome  White-Whiskered  Paradoxure, 
(Paradoxurus  leucomystax],  has  been  in  the  Park  about  six 
years,  and  to-day  it  coughs  and  snarls  at  the  visitor  just  as 
it  did  in  the  beginning.  It  is  a  smooth-coated  creature, 
colored  like  a  puma,  and  comes  from  northern  China.  Other 
members  of  the  Family  Viverridae  contained  in  the  collection 
are  the  Malayan  Paradoxure,  (P.  hermaphroditus)  •  the  Black 
Paradoxure,  (P.  niger) ;  the  African  Ichneumon,  (Herpestes 
ichneumon],  the  strange  black  creature  from  the  Malay  Pe- 
ninsula called  the  Binturong,  or  "Bear-Cat,"  (Arctictis  bin- 
turong] ,  and  the  Suricate,  or  Slender-Tailed  Meerkat,  (Suri- 
cata  tetradactyla),  of  South  Africa. 

Into  the  Small-Mammal  House  have  drifted  and  comfort- 
ably settled  down  several  canine  species  which  were  not 
satisfied  elsewhere.  Of  these,  the  most  interesting  and  valu- 
able is  the  Hyaena  Dog,  (Lycaon  pictus) ,  of  eastern  Africa, 
a  mottle-coated  creature  with  a  dog-like  body  and  a  head 
like  a  hyaena.  His  mottled  brindled  coat— a  medley  of 
yellow,  brown  and  black — seems  to  have  paused  uncertainly 
in  an  effort  to  become  either  distinctly  hyaena-like  or  dog- 
like.  In  a  wild  state  this  animal  is  quite  savage  and  cour- 
ageous. It  hunts  in  packs,  and  pulls  down  antelopes  many 
times  larger  than  itself. 

The  New  Mexico  Desert  Fox,  (Vulpes  macrotis  neomexi- 
canus),  is  a  small  understudy  of  the  better  known  Swift  or 
Kit  Fox  of  the  northern  plains,  but  it  has  larger  ears, 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  91 

Neither  of  these  delicate  little  species  seems  to  thrive  in  our 
large  Fox  Dens,  which  seem  to  be  too  large  for  them ;  but 
in  this  building  they  thrive  and  are  quite  content  with  life. 
The  Swift  Fox  is  the  four-footed  elf  of  the  plains,  and  it 
is  unfortunate  that  the  poison  laid  for  the  fierce  and  cruel 
stock-killing  wolves  should  prove  its  extermination — as  it 
surely  will,  ere  long. 

The  Arctic  Fox,  (Vulpes  lagopus).—Thi$  creature  of  the 
polar  world  is  a  striking  example  of  climatic  influence  on  a 
species,  and  also  of  the  danger  that  lies  in  describing  a  spe- 
cies from  a  single  specimen.  In  the  far  north,  the  Arctic 
Fox  is  snow-white  all  the  year  round.  Farther  south  it  is 
white  in  winter,  but  in  summer  is  bluish-brown.  In  the 
southern  part  of  its  range,  the  Aleutian  Archipelago  for 
example,  except  for  an  occasional  white  individual,  it  is  dark 
all  the  year  round,  and  is  known  only  as  the  Blue  Fox.  At 
first  it  may  seem  difficult  to  believe  that  these  two  widely- 
different  extremes  are  only  color-phases  of  the  same  species ; 
but  it  is  quite  true.  The  dark-colored  animal  is  not  even 
accorded  subspecific  rank. 

On  various  islands  along  the  Alaska  coast,  especially  in 
the  Aleutian  Archipelago,  about  forty  commercial  companies 
are  engaged  in  breeding  Blue  Foxes  for  their  fur,  some  of 
them  with  satisfactory  success.  The  foxes  are  fed  daily, 
on  cooked  corn  meal  and  dried  fish.  They  come  up  to  be 
fed,  and  when  the  time  comes  to  handle  and  sort  them 
previous  to  killing  the  annual  allotment,  they  greatly  facil- 
itate matters  by  the  readiness  with  which  they  enter  box 
traps. 

The  great  decrease  in  the  annual  supply  of  good  fur  has 
caused  many  persons  to  hope  that  fox-breeding  may  be 
developed  into  a  remunerative  industry.  Except  in  Alaska, 
no  extensive  experiments  in  that  line  have  been  made.  It 
is  quite  desirable  that  fox-breeding  in  the  United  States 
should  be  taken  up  under  state  or  national  auspices,  and 
worked  out  to  a  successful  issue.  There  is  good  reason  to 
hope  and  believe  that  it  might  be  developed  into  an  im- 
portant industry. 

From  Argentina,  South  America,  have  come  two  fine 
specimens  of  the  Azara  Dog,  (Canis  azarae},  which,  but  for 
their  half  dog-like  tails  might  pass  anywhere  as  rather  odd- 
looking  gray  foxes.  But  they  are  a  visible  reminder  of  the 
fact  that  the  pampas  of  South  America  contain  an  extensive 
series  of  foxes  and  wild  dogs,  which  thus  far  is  practically 
unknown  everywhere  north  of  the  Amazon.  We  have  now 


92  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

under  engagement  a  specimen  of  the  largest  and  most  re- 
markable of  those  forms — the  Maned  Wolf,  (Canis  jnbatus), 
and  its  arrival  is  expected  in  the  spring  of  1907.  Its  enor- 
mous length  of  legs  gives  this  animal  a  height  which  is  in- 
credible until  seen.  If  it  arrives  safely,  it  will,  in  all  prob- 
ability, be  regarded  by  visitors  to  the  Park  as  the  most 
remarkable  of  all  living  canine  animals.  It  will  be  quar- 
tered in  the  Small  Mammal  House,  in  one  of  the  large  east- 
ern cages. 

The  Dingo,  or  Australian  Wild  Dog,  (Canis  dingo),  is 
represented  by  two  specimens  which  look  like  ordinary 
yellow  dogs.  By  many  persons  it  is  believed  that  this  ani- 
mal was  not  indigenous  to  Australia,  and  was  planted  there 
by  man,  but  the  evidence  in  support  of  that  supposition  is 
by  no  means  conclusive. 

The  remaining  carnivores  in  the  Small-Mammal  House 
include  the  ill-tempered  and  ill-favored  Malay  Sun  Bear, 
(Ursus  malayanus],  \vhich  can  not  live  outside  in  cold 
weather,  and  which  enjoys  nothing  save  the  distinction  of 
being  the  most  cross-grained  and  quarrelsome  of  all  bears. 

The  Coati-Mundi,  (pronounced  coy-ty  mon-day),  is  for 
its  size  one  of  the  best  exhibition  animals  that  can  be  found 
outside  of  the  Primate  House.  It  is  closely  related  to  our 
raccoon,  but  is  far  more  showy  and  interesting.  It  has  a 
very  lively  and  industrious  disposition,  is  a  good  climber, 
and  from  dawn  until  dark  is  almost  constantly  on  the  move. 
Although  it  is  a  carnivorous  animal,  and  provided  with 
powerful  canine  teeth,  it  is  not  naturally  quarrelsome,  but 
on  the  contrary  is  quite  gregarious  in  its  habits.  The  genus 
Nasua  inhabits  Mexico,  Central  and  South  America.  We 
have  two  species,  the  Red  Coati-Mondi,  (Nasua  rufa),  and 
the  White-Nosed,  (N.  narica). 

The  Raccoon  Dog-,  of  Japan,  (Nycter 'eutes  procyonoides), 
is  to  all  outward  appearances  a  raccoon,  but  its  feet  are 
digitigrade,  not  plantigrade,  and  it  is  a  true  dog. 

The  American  Badger,  (Ta.ridea  americana],  is  repre- 
sented by  a  fine,  large  and  very  light-colored  specimen  that 
was  presented  by  President  Roosevelt.  The  European  Bad- 
ger, (Meles  ta.rus),  is  shown  near  by. 

Our  collection  of  Rodents  contains  the  following  im- 
portant and  representative  species  of  squirrels : 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


93 


AFRICAN    PORCUPINE. 


NORTH  AMERICAN. 
Gray  Squirrel Sciurus  carolinensis New  York. 


Black   Squirrel 

Fox   Squirrel 

Southern   Fox   Squirrel . 

Red   Squirrel 

Eastern   Chipmunk 

Western    Chipmunk .... 
Parry's   Sperinophile . 


Ohio. 

. .       "          ludoviciamis Kansas. 

niger Louisiana. 

. .      "         hudsoniits New  York. 

.  .Tamias  stnatus " 

speciosus California. 

Citellus    parryi Alaska. 


Thirteen-Lined  Spermophile.  .tipcrmophilus  tridccem-lineatus. .  Iowa. 


FOREIGN   SPECIES. 

Malabar  Hill  Squirrel Sciurus  malabaricus S.  India. 

Indian   Hill   Squirrel "         Mcolor N.  India. 

Prevost    Squirrel "         prevosti Malayana. 

Golden-Bellied  Squirrel "         aurcigaster Mexico. 

Columbia  Fire-Backed  Squirrel  variabilis S.  America. 

No  collection  of  Rodents  is  worthy  of  acceptance  by  the 
public  without  a  fair  representation  of  Porcupines.  The 
most  wonderful  species  is  the  African  Porcupine,  (Hystrix 
cristata),  which  when  disturbed  erects  a  threatening  array 
of  enormously-long,  shining  black-and-white  quills  that  are 


94  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

a  wonder  to  behold.     The  lofty  white  crest  of  this  animal 
is  one  of  its  most  conspicuous  features. 

The  Indian  Crestless  Hill  Porcupine,  (/-/.  longicaudar}, 
usually  present  in  our  collection,  is  merely  a  quiet  under- 
study of  the  former.  Strange  to  say — and  also  provok- 
ing— our  old  friend  of  the  North  Woods,  the  Canada  Porcu- 
pine, (Erethizon  dorsatus*),  is  much  more  capricious  and 
difficult  to  keep  for  a  long  period  than  either  of  the  fine 
foreign  species  already  mentioned.  It  is  only  the  men  who 
know  all  about  animals  who  can  tell  us  why  nothing  seems 
to  exactly  satisfy  them,  and  why  they  will  not  breed  here, 
live  ten  years  and  be  happy.  Even  the  best  cage  life  does 
not  seem  to  be  good  enough  for  them;  but  we  are  still 
experimenting. 

In  order  that  visitors  to  the  Park  may  at  all  times  be 
able  to  see  a  Beaver,  (Castor  canadensis],  and  not  be 
thwarted  in  that  desire  by  the  very  shy  habits  of  the  ani- 
mals in  the  Beaver  Pond,  we  have  a  specimen  on  exhibition 
in  the  Small-Mammal  House.  This  individual  came  from 
the  Eio  Grande,  as  a  small  kit,  and  has  been  reared  in  its 
present  quarters.  It  is  kept  constantly  supplied  with  food- 
wood,  chiefly  of  poplar  and  maple,  and  clean  water  in  which 
to  bathe. 

The  Capybara,  (Hydrochaerus  capybara} ,  is  the  largest  of 
all  gnawing  animals,  and  the  most  remarkable  rodent  in  our 
collection.  In  form  and  size  it  suggests  a  large,  gray, 
coarse-haired  pig.  It  is  a  water- loving  animal,  of  the  Amer- 
ican tropics,  and  lives  on  the  grassy  banks  of  the  delta  of 
the  Orinoco,  and  similar  places  farther  south.  It  is  one  of 
the  best  divers  of  all  land  animals,  and  when  attacked  on 
land  always  plunges  into  the  water  and  dives  for  about 
100  feet  before  coming  to  the  surface.  It  is  strictly  a  vege- 
table feeder,  and  its  flesh  is  very  palatable  food.  It  takes 
kindly  to  captivity,  and  in  disposition  it  is  very  affectionate. 
The  Agouti,  (Dasyprocta),  is  to  the  jungles  of  South 
America  as  the  cotton-tail  rabbit  is  to  the  forests  of  the 
eastern  United  States;  but  structurally  it  is  not  closely 
related  to  the  members  of  the  Rabbit  Family.  It  lives 
wholly  on  the  ground,  in  dense  cover,  and  is  very  difficult 
to  shoot.  As  a  rule,  it  is  impossible  for  dogs  to  catch  it 
because  it  runs  so  swiftly  through  the  dense  cover  that  they 
can  not  keep  it  in  sight.  There  are  a  number  of  species, 
varying  in  color  from  dark  brown  to  golden  yellow. 

The  Toothless  Mammals. — The  Order  Edentata  contains 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  95 


CANADA     PORCUPINE. 

some  of  the  most  odd  and  remarkable  mammals  that  ever 
find  their  way  into  a  zoological  park.  They  are  the  arma- 
dilloes,  ant-eaters  and  sloths.  Without  exception,  they  are 
delicate  feeders,  and  difficult  to  keep  for  long  periods,  and 
for  this  reason  the  number  on  exhibition  constantly  varies 
between  half  a  score  and  none  at  all !  As  far  as  it  is  possi- 
ble, the  species  named  below  will  be  kept  on  exhibition; 
but  these  rarities  are  difficult  to  obtain,  and  the  supply 
must  be  regarded  as  intermittent. 

The  Nine-Banded  Armadillo,  (Tatu  novemcinctum} ,  of 
southern  Texas  and  Arizona,  and  southward,  is  the  only 
edentate  found  in  the  United  States.  Its  total  length,  from 
nose  to  tail-tip,  is  about  26  inches,  and  it  is  about  as  large 
as  an  opossum.  Its  strangest  feature  is  the  horny  shell, 
with  9  jointed  bands  in  the  middle,  which  Nature  has  de- 
signed for  the  animal's  protection.  It  lives  in  burrows  in 
the  earth,  and  in  a  wild  state  it  feeds  on  a  mixed  diet  of 
worms,  ants,  snails,  beetles,  grasshoppers  and  other  in- 
sects. 

The  Six-Banded  Armadillo,  (Dasypus  sexcinctus),  of  South 
America,  has  a  much  stronger  and  more  bony  shell  than  the 
preceding  species,  but  very  similar  habits.  The  Three- 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


NIXE-EAXDED    ARMADILLO. 

Banded  Armadillo,  (Tolypeutes  tricinctus),  is  the  most  re- 
markable of  all — and  also  the  most  difficult  to  obtain.  It 
is  able  to  convert  itself  into  a  round  ball  covered  at  all 
points  by  bony  armor,  and  remarkably  well  protected  from 
the  teeth  of  predatory  animals. 

The  Great  Ant-Eater,  (Myrmccophaga  jubata).— This  is  a 
very  remarkable  animal,  and  usually  is  to  be  found  alive  in 
the  Small-Mammal  House.  Its  anatomical  peculiarities  are 
apparent  at  a  glance.  Its  toothless  jaws  are  enormously 
elongated,  and  taper  to  a  rounded  point,  where  the  mouth 
opens  as  a  narrow  slit,  scarcely  large  enough  to  admit  the 
large  end  of  a  lead  pencil.  Its  front  claws  are  large  and 
strong,  for  use  in  tearing  open  ant-hills  and  decayed  logs; 
and  the  creature  walks  upon  them  as  if  club-footed.  Its 
tail  is  long  and  thic-k,  and  bears  a  luxuriant  brush  of  coarse, 
wavy  hair  more  than  a  foot  long.  The  negroes  of  British 
Guiana  gravely  inform  travellers  that  the  Ant-Eater  uses 
his  bushy  tail  as  a  broom,  with  which  he  sweeps  up  ants  in 
order  to  devour  them  wholesale. 

As  may  be  inferred  from  the  total  absence  of  teeth,  this 
strange  creature  lives  chiefly  upon  crawling  insects.  In  de- 
vouring the  dreadful  ants,  which  in  a  South  American  forest 
often  make  life  a  burden,  it  helps  to  preserve  the  balance  of 
Nature.  In  captivity  the  food  of  this  animal  consists  of 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


97 


milk,  raw  eggs,  and  ground  meat.  In  taking  its  food  it 
thrusts  out  from  four  to  eight  inches  of  round,  wormlike 
tongue,  which,  contrary  to  many  published  statements,  is 
not  covered  with  sticky  saliva. 

The  Tamandua,  (Tamandua  tetradactyla],  is  a  smaller 
ant-eater  than  the  preceding  species,  of  tree-climbing  habits, 
with  a  proportionately  shorter  head,  no  long  hair  on  its 
tail,  and  extremely  large  front  claws.  It  is  found  in  Venez- 
uela, the  Guianas,  Brazil,  and  in  fact  the  greater  portion 
of  the  region  of  tropical  forests  on  this  continent  south  of 
Mexico.  Its  tail  is  prehensile,  or  grasping,  and  in  climbing 
is  used  almost  constantly. 

The  Sloths  are  the  slowest,  the  most  helpless  and  defense- 
less of  the  edentates.  They  subsist  chiefly  upon  leaves, 
they  climb  no  more  swiftly  than  a  man,  and  they  escape 
their  enemies  through  the  resemblance  of  their  pelage  to 
the  rough  bark  of  the  tree-trunks  among  which  they  live. 
They  have  a  few  teeth,  but  none  for  defense,  and  their  claws 
are  of  use  only  in  climbing,  except  that  they  can  pinch  with 
them. 

Two  species  of  Sloth  are  occasionally  seen  in  the  Zoolog- 
ic'al  Park,  but  usually  in  the  Primate  House,  where  the 
high  temperature  is  better  suited  to  their  needs. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  99 

The  Three-Toed  Sloth,  (Brady pus  tridactylus) ,  is  the  one 
with  a  brown  ''saddle-mark"  of  short  hair  in  the  middle  of 
its  back.  The  remainder  of  its  pelage  is  coarse  and  long, 
and  its  greenish  tint  renders  it  a  close  imitation  of  algae- 
covered  tree-bark.  The  Two-Toed  Sloth,  (Choloepus  hoff- 
mani),  is  much  larger  than  the  preceding,  and  lives  longer 
in  captivity.  Until  recently  a  fine  female  specimen,  with 
her  young,  was  exhibited  in  the  Primate  House,  where  it 
lived  about  eighteen  months.  Unlike  most  captive  sloths, 
it  was  fond  of  climbing  about  the  tree-branches  which 
were  placed  in  its  cage. 

The  Egg-Laying  Mammals. — For  several  months  recently 
there  were  exhibited  here  two  Echidnas — of  all  small  mam- 
mals ever  seen  alive  in  New  York  the  most  wonderful.  The 
Echidna  conies  from  Australia,  the  home  of  most  ancient 
types  of  mammals,  and  belongs  to  the  lowest  Order  of  Mam- 
mals, (Monotremata).  Like  its  distant  relative,  the  duck- 
billed platypus,  it  reproduces  by  laying  eggs!  Its  back 
is  covered  with  short  but  very  thick  spines,  and  its  nose  is 
a  long,  slender  beak,  absolutely  unique.  Other  examples  of 
this  species  will  be  exhibited  whenever  possible. 


THE  PUMA  AND  LYNX  HOUSE,  No.  33A. 


Near  the  Small-Mammal  House  (No.  35)  will  be  found 
a  log  cabin  with  its  entire  front  opening  into  two  wire- 
covered  yards.  The  interior  of  the  building  is  provided 
with  sleeping-dens  in  which  the  occupants  of  the  two  enclo- 
sures can  keep  dry  and  warm.  This  installation  is  for 
lynxes,  but  half  of  it  is  occupied  by  pumas.  Already  it 
has  fully  proven  the  desirability  of  keeping  lynxes  and 
pumas  constantly  in  the  open  air,  and  without  artificial 
heat.  To  lynxes  especially  there  is  nothing  more  deadly 
than  a  well-heated  room,  indoors. 

The  Puma,  (Felis  concolor],  is  described  in  the  section 
relating  to  the  Lion  House,  where  other  Pumas  are  exhib- 
ited, (page  60). 

Of  the  Lynxes,  we  have  two  well-defined  species,  and 
one  subspecies.  The  Canada  Lynx,  (Lynx  canadensis),  is 
well  represented  in  the  southern  compartment  of  the  Puma 
House,  where  a  fine  adult  pair  has  become  acclimatized. 
This  is  the  Loup  Cervier  of  the  French  Canadians,  and  it  is 


100  POPULAIt  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

truly  the  Lynx  of  Canada  and  the  subarctic  North.  It  has 
no  spots  on  its  body,  and  its  pelage  is  of  a  cold  pepper-and- 
salt  gray  color.  Its  feet  are  large  and  heavily  furred,  and 
it  has  a  long,  black  hair-pencil  on  the  tip  of  each  ear.  A 
large  specimen  stands  18  inches  high,  and  weighs  22  pounds. 
The  food  of  the  American  Lynxes  generally  consists  of  hares 
and  rabbits,  ground  birds  of  all  kinds,  and  anything  else 
that  can  be  caught  and  killed,  except  porcupine.  To  man 
they  are  not  "dangerous  animals." 

The  Red  Lynx,  Bay  Lynx  or  Wild-Cat,  as  it  is  variously 
called,  (Lynx  rufus),  is  the  smallest  of  American  Lynxes, 
and  also  the  one  most  generally  known  throughout  the 
eastern  United  States.  It  has  small  feet,  a  reddish-gray 
coat,  which  frequently  is  spotted,  and  no  hair  pencil  on  the 
tip  of  each  ear.  Until  further  notice,  our  specimens  of  this 
species  will  be  found  near  by,  in  the  Small-Mammal  House. 


THE  BURROWING  MAMMALS,  AND  OTHERS,  No.  42. 


North  America  is  wonderfully  rich  in  species  of  gnawing 
animals,  and  the  end  is  not  yet.  The  investigations  of  our 
mammalogists  are  adding  new  species  with  a  degree  of 
rapidity  and  parallelism  that  is  fairly  bewildering. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  Zoological  Society  to  do  its  utmost  to 
increase  as  much  as  possible  the  sum  total  of  knowledge  of 
our  largest  Order  of  Mammals.  Manifestly,  however,  it  is 
impracticable  to  do  more  than  place  before  visitors  a  reason- 
able number  of  well-chosen  types,  which  shall  represent  as 
many  as  possible  of  the  twelve  Families,  and  also  the  genera 
most  worth  knowing. 

The  most  serious  obstacle  in  the  way  of  anyone  who 
attempts  to  exhibit  collections  of  living  rodents  lies  in  the 
natural  propensity  of  so  many  species  to  keep  out  of  sight 
during  the  daytime.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Mouse,  Pocket  Gopher,  and  Pouched  Rat  Families, 
comprising  about  three  hundred  species  in  all.  With  very 
few  exceptions,  the  whole  matter  of  the  exhibition  of  collec- 
tions of  living  rodents  is  something  new,  and  every  step  is 
an  experiment.  In  the  belief  that  even  the  most  shy  bur- 
rowing animals  will  appreciate  abundant  room,,  perfectly 
natural  surroundings,  plenty  of  food,  and  immunity  from 
annoyance,  and  eventually  fall  into  the  habit  of  spending 
many  of  the  daylight  hours  above  ground,  as  do  prairie- 


NRW   YORK  ZOOLOGICAL   PARK.  101 

dogs,  the  Society  has  constructed  a  series  of  fifteen  small 
yards,  each  10x20  feet,  bounded  by  walls  going  down  to 
bedrock,  and  enclosed  above  by  a  box-like  arrangement  of 
very  light  wire-netting  5. feet  high.  The  ground  is  chiefly 
undisturbed  soil  of  a  firm  and  gravelly  nature,  thoroughly 
drained,  and  all  earth  filling  has  been  tightly  rammed  into 
place  to  prevent  caving  in  the  burrows.  Above  ground, 
each  yard  contains  weathered  rocks,  stumps,  and  hollow 
logs  in  abundance. 

In  these  fifteen  yards,  each  of  which  will  hold  specimens  of 
at  least  two  or  three  species,  will  be  placed  strongly  marked 
types  of  those  Families  whose  representatives  are  most  nu- 
merous in  North  America,  and  also  the  least  known,  only  a 
few  of  which  may  be  mentioned  here. 

The  Sewellel  Family,  (Aplodontidae] ,  contains  five  or  six 
species  and  is  of  unusual  scientific  interest.  The  Sewellel, 
Mountain  Beaver,  Farmer  or  "Showt'l"  (Aplodontia  rufus 
and  major],  is  an  animal  of  the  size  and  general  appearance 
of  a  large,  short-tailed  muskrat.  It  inhabits  a  few  localities 
in  remote  regions  in  the  mountain-valleys  of  northern  Cali- 
fornia, Oregon,  Washington,  and  southern  British  Columbia. 
It  feeds  like  a  beaver,  climbs  bushes  four  feet  high,  burrows 
in  wet  ground,  and  fights  like  a  little  fiend  when  brought  to 
bay.  Notwithstanding  the  size  of  this  animal,  it  is  very  sel- 
dom seen,  and  is  but  little  known. 

The  Squirrel  Family,  (Sc'iuridae},  is  large  (one  hundred 
and  forty-one  species),  very  interesting,  and  entitled  to 
much  consideration.  In  the  present  enclosure  will  be  shown 
in  summer  many  species  of  interesting  ground  squirrels, 
chipmunks,  and  marmots.  In  winter  all  the  squirrels,  save 
one  or  two  hardy  native  species,  will  be  found  in  the  Small- 
Mammal  House,  near  by. 

The  Rabbit  Family,  (Leporidae),  is  one  of  the  most  diffi- 
cult to  install  and  exhibit.  Its  members  are  large  and 
showy,  but  for  several  reasons  it  is  very  difficult  to  keep 
them  on  exhibition  in  captivity.  In  time,  however,  all  four 
of  the  great  groups  —Rabbit,  Varying-  Hare,  Jack  Hare,  and 
also  the  Pikas,  forming  the  allied  Family  Ochotonidae — will 
be  represented  by  specimens. 

Just  what  can  be  accomplished  satisfactorily  with  the 
most  interesting  members  of  the  Jumping-  Mouse,  Pouched 
Rat,  and  Pocket  Gopher  Families,  remains  to  be  determined 
by  trial.  If  they  can  be  induced  to  show  themselves  to 
visitors,  during  daylight  hours,  they  will  be  kept  for  ex- 
hibition ;  otherwise  not. 


102  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

In  Winter. — Tn  the  temperate  zone,  when  "winter  comes 
to  rule  the  varied  year,"  all  the  burrowing  animals  must 
retire  to  their  burrows,  live  upon  their  buried  stores  of  win- 
ter food,  and  hibernate  until  spring.  The  tropical  species 
do  not  know  how  to  hibernate,  and  therefore  they  must  be 
taken  indoors,  or  they  perish. 

In  order  that  our  native  species  of  rodents  may  be  seen 
all  winter,  and  that  the  tropical  species  may  be  kept  alive, 
nearly  all  the  animals  that  in  summer  live  in  the  Burrow- 
ing Mammals'  Quarters  are  removed  in  autumn  to  the  well- 
warmed  Small-Mammal  House.  It  also  happens  that  in 
summer  a  few  of  the  small  carnivores,  and  all  Armadilloes, 
are  kept  in  these  Quarters. 

In  addition  to  the  rodents  which  it  is  practicable  to 
exhibit  in  these  enclosures,  the  summer  season  will  find 
some  of  them  occupied  by  certain  especially  interesting 
species  which  need  the  soil  of  Mother  Earth  as  well,  as 
sunlight  and  air.  Here  will  be  found  the  Armadilloes,  the 
Nasuas,  the  Raccoon  Dogs,  the  Swift  Foxes,  and  a  few 
others,  which  in  winter  belong  in  the  Small-Mammal  House. 


THE  PRAIRIE-DOG  VILLAGE,  No.  41. 


The  Western  Prairie-" Dog,"  or  Prairie  Marmot,  (Cyno- 
mys  ludoi'icianns). — Occupying  a  conspicuous  hill-top  near 
the  Small-Deer  House,  and  overlooking  the  Wild-Fowl  Pond, 
is  a  circular  enclosure,  80  feet  in  diameter,  surrounded  by 
an  iron  fence  with  an  overhang,  with  walls  going  down  to 
bedrock.  This  contains  about  fifty  fat  and  jolly  little 
Prairie  Marmots,  one-half  of  which  are  the  gift  of  a  Montana 
ranchman,  Mr.  Howard  Eaton.  The  soil  of  the  enclosure 
has  never  been  disturbed,  and  there  is  no  danger  that  the 
little  creatures  ever  will  be  smothered  in  their  burrows,  as 
frequently  happens  in  earth  that  has  once  been  dug  up  and 
filled  in  again. 

Owing  to  its  optimistic  and  even  joyous  disposition,  the 
Prairie-" Dog"  has  many  friends,  and  "happy  as  a  Prairie- 
'Dog'  "  would  be  a  far  better  comparison  than  "happy  as  a 
king."  His  cousin,  the  woodchuck,  has  the  air  of  being  per- 
petually "in  the  dumps,"  but  the  Prairie-"  Dog  "—never. 
His  so-called  bark  is  really  a  laugh,  and  his  absurd  little  tail 
was  given  to  him  solely  as  a  means  of  visible  expression  of 
good  nature.  But  he  has  his  enemies  and  detractors.  The 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  103 

•joyote  loves  his  plump  and  toothsome  body;  the  "granger" 
hates  him  for  the  multitude  of  his  holes,  and  puts  spoonfuls 
of  poisoned  wheat  into  his  burrow. 

THE  BEAR  DENS,  No.  37. 

The  bears  of  the  world  form  a  very  interesting  group; 
and  when  its  representatives  are  properly  installed — 
in  large,  open  yards,  with  abundant  sunlight,  fresh  air  and 
room  for  exercise — they  develop  finely,  live  happily,  and 
furnish  endless  entertainment.  Under  proper  conditions, 
bears  are  cheerful  animals,  full  of  the  playful  spirit  that 
robs  captivity  of  its  chief  terror.  To  confine  bears  singly, 
in  small  cages,  or  in  wet-floored,  high- walled  dungeons,  or 
in  the  unspeakable  "pits"  of  mediaeval  type,  is  a  sin 
against  Nature. 

The  Zoological  Society  has  put  forth  considerable  effort 
in  constructing  a  series  of  nine  large  Bear  Dens  which  pro- 
vide ideal  conditions  for  their  inmates.  Bears  do  not  need 
buildings!  Their  habits  call  for  large,  open  yards,  properly 
situated,  with  snug  and  dry  sleeping-dens  attached,  to 
which  they  can  retire  whenever  they  wish.  To  them, 
masonry  walls  are  worse  than  useless,  for  they  cut  off  sun- 
light and  promote  dampness;  but  rocks  and  trees  upon 
which  to  climb  are  very  beneficial.  In  warm  weather,  all 
bears  are  fond  of  bathing,  and  a  bathing  pool  in  each  cage 
is  very  necessary. 

It  is  cruelty  to  animals  for  visitors  to  throw  peanuts,  or 
food  of  any  kind,  into  our  bear  dens ;  and  it  is  strictly  for- 
bidden. All  persons  who  do  not  wish  to  be  reprimanded  in 
public,  or  arrested,  are  advised  to  refrain  from  it.  Teasing 
with  food  always  irritates  bears,  sets  them  to  fighting,  spoils 
their  dispositions  and  renders  them  dangerous  to  the  keepers 
who  have  to  go  in  zvith  them!  All  visitors  who  are  laic- 
abiding,  and  friendly  to  the  Zoological  Society,  are  requested 
to  assist  the  keepers  and  policemen  in  preventing  lawless  per- 
sons from  throwing  food  into  the  bear  dens.  A  stern  repri- 
mand often  prevents  serious  trouble. 

The  bears  of  North  America  form  four  well-defined  groups, 
as  follows : 

The  Polar  Bear.  The  Alaskan  Brown  Bears. 

The  Grizzly  Bears.      The  Black  Bears,  and  their  allies. 

Up  to  this  date  (May  1,  1907),  23  species  and  subspecies 
have  been  described,  and  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  much 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  105 

more  work  remains  to  be  done  on  the  members  of  this  group 
of  animals  before  the  status  of  each  valid  and  invalid  species 
will  be  rendered  thoroughly  clear. 

The  most  noteworthy  species  are  as  follows: 

THE    MOST    IMPORTANT    SPECIES   OP  NORTH    AMERICAN    BEARS. 

Ursus  maritimus,    (Desm.),  Polar  Bear. 
Arctic  regions  generally. 

Ursus  middendorffi,     (Merriam),  Kadiak  Bear. 

Kadiak  Is.,  Alaska.     (Largest  of  all.) 
Ursus  dalli,    (Merr.),  Yakutat  Bear. 

Yakutat  Bay,  Alaska. 
Ursus  eulophus,    (Merr.),  Admiralty  Bear. 

Admiralty  Is.,  Alaska. 
Ursus  merriami,      (Allen),  Peninsula  Bear. 

Portage  Bay,  Alaska  Peninsula. 

Ursus  horribilis,  (Ord.),  Grizzly  Bear:  Silver-Tip. 

Wyoming  and  Utah  to  Alaska. 
S  w       Ursus  horribilis  horriaeus,  (Baird),  Mexican  Grizzly. 

Southwestern  New  Mexico. 
Ursus  richardsoni,     (Swainson),  Barren-Ground 
Grizzly. 
Great  Slave  Lake  region,  and  Barren-Grounds. 

(Ursus  americanus,     (Pallas),  Black  Bear. 
Eastern  North  America. 
Ursus  luteolus,     (Griffith),  Louisiana  Bear. 
^       t         Louisiana  and  Texas. 

Js   02  )     Ursus  floridanus,     (Merr.),  Everglade  Bear. 
PQ   03  \         Florida. 

jH  P3  1     Ursus  emmonsi,    (Ball),  Glacier  Bear. 
f          St.  Elias  Alps,  Yakutat  Bay. 

Ursus  kermodei,  (Hornaday),   Inland   White  Bear. 
Northwestern  British  Columbia. 

The  Polar  Bear,  (Ursus  maritimus}. — In  nearly  every  col- 
lection of  living  bears  the  individuals  of  this  species  are  the 
most  showy  and  attractive.  Their  white  coats  quickly  catch 
the  eye  of  the  visitor,  and  whether  young  or  old,  they  are 


106  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

generally  the  most  active  and  playful  of  all  captive  bears. 
In  cold  weather,  when  other  bears  lie  in  the  sun,  or,  if  per- 
mitted, curl  up  in  the  straw  of  their  sleeping  dens,  the 
Polar  Bear  will  disport  himself  in  the  freezing  cold  water 
of  his  swimming  pool,  and  joyously  play  with  a  cake  of  ice 
until  the  sight  of  it  makes  one  shiver. 

The  Polar  Bear  Den  is  situated  at  the  north  end  of  Rock- 
ing-Stone  Hill,  about  two  hundred  feet  from  the  north  end 
of  the  main  series  of  Bear  Dens.  It  is  reached  by  descending 
the  steps  leading  toward  the  Beaver  Pond,  and  turning  to 
the  right.  From  the  Rocking-Stone  Restaurant,  the  Polar 
Bears  are  quickly  reached  by  descending  the  hill  toward  the 
north. 

Although  the  Polar  Bear  inhabits  practically  the  whole  of 
the  Arctic  Ocean  and  its  numerous  islands,  it  is  by  no  means 
the  most  northerly  warm-blooded  mammal.  Nansen  found 
fox  tracks  at  85°  N..  but  the  most  northerly  bear  observed 
was  on  the  84th  parallel.  The  favorite  home  of  this  ani- 
mal is  the  edge  of  the  great  polar  ice  cap,  where  Neptune 
and  the  l '  Frost  King ' '  wage  continuous  warfare.  He  seldom 
ventures  more  than  a  day's  journey  inland,  on  any  shore. 
In  winter,  as  the  edge  of  the  ice-pack  moves  southward,  and 
in  summer  when  it  retreats  northward,  he  follows  it  in 
order  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  ringed  seals  and  walrus 
that  also  go  with  it. 

The  power  of  the  Polar  Bear  to  resist  ice-cold  \vater — 
nay,  even  to  enjoy  it — may  fairly  be  regarded  as  one  of 
the  wonders  of  Nature.  On  the  coast  of  Alaska  this  strange 
creature  will  plunge  into  the  Arctic  Ocean  and  swim  miles 
from  shore,  through  tossing  fields  of  broken  ice,  and  wher- 
ever the  mother  leads,  her  cubs  follow. 

The  world's  supply  of  captive  Polar  Bears  comes  almost 
wholly  from  whalers  and  sealers,  who  improve  every  oppor- 
tunity to  capture  cubs.  A  great  number  thus  find  their 
way  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Carl  Hagenbeck,  of  Hamburg, 
who  supplied  the  large  specimen  now  exhibited.  The  griz- 
zly bear  of  the  United  States  will  soon  cease  to  exist,  but  not 
so  with  the  Polar  Bear.  Thanks  to  the  "Frost  King,"  he 
needs  no  protection  against  man's  propensity  to  exterminate 
all  wild  creatures.  There  will  be  hundreds  of  bears  around 
the  northern  end  of  Franz  Josef  Land  as  long  as  the  seals 
and  walrus  remain  for  them  to  feed  upon. 

The  Yakutat  Bear,  (Ursus  daUi).—In  1899,  we  received 
from  Hudson  Lake,  Copper  River  District,  Alaska,  two 
young  Alaskan  Brown  Bears  which  for  some  time  we  be- 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  107 

lieved  would  prove  to  represent  the  species  found  on  Kadiak 
Island.  In  this  belief  they  were  for  a  time  labeled  as  Ka- 
diak Bears,  (U.  middendorfK) ,  and  so  entered  provisionally 
in  previous  editions  of  the  Guide  Book.  The  maturity  of 
the  animals  has  proven  that  this  supposition  was  erroneous. 
The  extremely  short  and  thick  muzzle  of  the  adult  male 
proves  conclusively  that  they  are  not  identical  with  the 
long-skulled  species  of  Kadiak.  This  interesting  pair,  ab- 
solutely identical  in  color  with  middendorffi,  are  now  iden- 
tified, pending  further  revisions  of  our  Ursidae,  as  Ursus 
dalli. 

This  species,  and  the  two  following,  well  represent  the 
group  of  big  Alaskan  Brown  Bears,  which  are  quite  distinct 
from  the  grizzlies  and  blacks.  They  are  characterized  by 
their  great  size,  high  shoulders,  massive  heads,  shaggy  brown 
pelage,  and  large  claws.  They  live  chiefly  upon  salmon, 
which  they  catch  from  the  small  streams,  but  they  also 
devour  great  quantities  of  grass. 

The  Peninsula  Bear,  (Ursus  merriami),  of  Moeller  Bay, 
well  down  the  Alaskan  Peninsula,  may  at  once  be  recognized 
by  its  light  brownish-yellow  color,  and  its  great  size  for  a 
bear  born  in  1904.  Its  claws  are  of  enormous  thickness. 
If  it  continues  to  increase  in  size  to  the  limit  of  its  growing 
age,  it  will  develop  into  a  very  large  animal. 

The  Admiralty  Bear,  (Ursus  eulophus),  represents  a  large 
species  originally  discovered  on  Admiralty  Island,  southern 
Alaska.  Its  dark  brown  color  is  very  much  like  that  of  the 
Yakutat  and  Kadiak  bears. 

The  Grizzly  Bear,  or  "Silver-Tip  Grizzly"  (Ursus  horri- 
bilis). — The  rapid  disappearance  of  this  species  from  the 
United  States  renders  all  living  examples  of  it  specially 
interesting. 

Of  all  bears,  the  Silver-Tip  Grizzly  is  the  most  savage  and 
dangerous.  He  is  easily  angered,  and  when  wounded  or 
harried  not  only  becomes  furiously  vindictive,  but  he  also 
possesses  a  degree  of  courage  which  renders  him  a  danger- 
ous antagonist.  As  a  general  thing,  a  Grizzly  Bear,  like  a 
lion  or  tiger,  will  run  as  soon  as  he  discovers  the  presence  of 
his  only  enemy — man;  but  if  he  is  wounded  or  cornered — 
or  thinks  he  is  cornered — he  assumes  the  aggressive,  without 
an  instant's  delay.  Unfortunately,  the  largest  Silver-Tip 
Grizzlies  ever  killed  have  been  too  far  from  scales  to  make 
it  possible  to  weigh  them. 

The  most  interesting  specimen  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Silver-Tip  now  on  exhibition  is  a  dark-colored  and  very 


108  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

handsome  specimen,  named  "Engineer,"  obtained  in 
Meeker,  Colorado,  by  Professor  Henry  F.  Osborn,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Society  by  the  Engineers'  Club  of  New  York 
City.  The  color  of  this  individual  is  darker  than  the  most 
common  type  of  the  Silver-Tip,  which  is  sometimes  almost 
as  gray  as  a  badger. 

A  very  interesting  male  Silver-Tip,  from  "Wyoming,  is 
much  lighter  in  color  than  the  Colorado  specimen.  Its  face 
and  head  are  so  light-colored  it  would  be  called  by  Rocky 
Mountain  hunters  a  "Bald-Faced"  Grizzly.  A  third  speci- 
men was  obtained  for  the  Society  at  White  Horse,  Yukon 
Territory,  in  1905,  and  its  development  will  be  watched  with 
much  interest.  Throughout  the  Rocky  Mountain  region 
the  "Silver-Tip"  and  the  "Grizzly"  are  identical;  but  the 
color  of  the  species  varies  considerably. 

In  a  wild  state  Grizzly  Bears  live  on  berries  and  fruits  of 
all  kinds  available,  succulent  roots,  grubs,  carrion  if  it  comes 
handy,  and  live  game  if  it  can  be  killed.  In  the  cattle- 
growing  states  bordering  the  Rocky  Mountains,  owing  to 
their  cattle-killing  propensities,  a  bounty  of  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  dollars  per  head  is  paid  for  their  destruction. 

The  Black  Bear,  (Ursus  americanus}. — Until  quite  re- 
cently all  black  bears  in  North  America  were  referred  to  a 
single  species,  with  the  type  of  which  most  persons  are 
familiar.  Even  during  the  last  twenty  years  living  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Black  Bear  group  have  been  found  in  near- 
ly every  state  and  territory  of  the  United  States,  and  also 
in  northern  Mexico,  Province  of  Quebec,  Alberta,  Assiniboia, 
British  Columbia,  Alaska,  and  the  Mackenzie  River  basin. 
Our  collection  contains  Black  Bears  representing  several 
widely  separated  localities. 

With  the  above  is  shown  an  individual  referable  to  the 
Black  Bear  group, ( Ursus  americanus),  brown  in  color,  and 
of  a  type  known  universally  throughout  the  West  as  the 
Cinnamon  Bear.  The  scientific  status  of  this  creature  is  by 
no  means  satisfactory.  Because  of  the  fact  that  its  skull 
and  dentition  reveal  no  constant  difference  in  structure 
from  those  of  the  typical  Black  Bear,  and  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  a  Cinnamon  Bear  can  instantly  be  distinguished 
by  its  color,  even  at  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  Dr. 
Merriam  and  all  other  American  mammalogists  refuse  to 
consider  the  Cinnamon  Bear  as  a  distinct  variety,  or,  in  fact, 
as  anything  else  than  a  pure  Black  Bear !  While  this  view 
is  correct,  it  is  well  known  that  the  range  of  the  Cinnamon 
Bear  is  strictly  limited  to  western  North  America!  In  the 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  109 

northern  gray  squirrel,  (Sciurus  carolinensis),  and  also  in  the 
fox-squirrel,  (S.  niger),  all  possible  gradations  of  color  are 
found,  from  the  typical  gray  and  red  to  jet  black ;  but  the 
color-line  between  the  Cinnamon  Bear  and  the  typical  Black 
Bear  always  is  sharply  drawn,  and  every  specimen  is  refer- 
able at  a  glance  to  one  type  or  the  other.  The  Cinnamon 
Bear  deserves  further  investigation. 

The  Brown  Bear  of  Europe,  (Ursus  arctos),  is  represented 
by  two  specimens  from  Central  Russia  which  bear  a  general 
resemblance  to  Rocky  Mountain  grizzlies.  This  is  so  striking 
that  were  they  not  labeled  very  few  persons  would  suspect 
their  European  birth.  They  have  the  high  shoulders  and 
grizzly  brown  coat  of  the  silver-tip,  and  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  would  be  considered  good  examples  of  Ursus 
ho  r rib  His. 

This  pair  has  bred  twice  here  and  reared  some  very  fine 
cubs. 

The  Syrian  Bear,  (Ursus  syriacus},  is  well  represented  by 
two  fine  specimens  from  Trebizond,  Asia  Minor.  They  are 
of  a  pale  yellow  color,  have  very  high  shoulders,  narrow 
heads,  and  smooth  pelage.  These  animals  represent  "the 
bears  of  the  Bible,"  which  appeared  in  punishment  of  the 
children  who  were  disrespectful  to  the  prophet  Elisha. 
Bears  of  this  species  are  often  trained  to  dance,  and  per- 
form various  tricks  at  command,  and  usually  lead  very 
miserable  lives  at  the  hands  of  gipsies  and  other  bear 
specialists  of  nomadic  habits. 

The  Hairy-Eared  Bear,  (Ursus  piscator],  a  species  very 
rarely  seen  in  captivity,  is  represented  by  two  fine-  speci- 
mens from  the  Altai  Mountains,  Central  Asia.  This  animal 
is  sometimes  called,  on  account  of  its  peculiar  light-brown 
color,  the  Isabella  Bear.  Its  more  correct  name  has  been 
bestowed  on  account  of  its  large  and  very  hairy  ears.  It 
inhabits  northeastern  Asia,  as  far  southwestward  as  the 
Altai  Mountains.  The  fine  pair  exhibited  were  presented 
to  the  Society  by  Mr.  Carl  Hagenbeck. 

The  Himalayan  Black  Bear,  (Ursus  torquatus),  is  the 
handsomest  of  the  four  living  species  of  black  bears,  and 
can  easily  be  identified  anywhere  by  three  distinct  char- 
acters, neither  of  which  is  possessed  by  any  other  black  bear. 
They  are,  a  pure  white  chin,  long  side-whiskers  on  the  jaws 
and  sides  of  the  neck  and  very  large  ears.  Up  to  this  date 
the  geographic  range  of  this  very  interesting  animal  has 
been  recorded  as  extending  from  eastern  Persia  through 
Beluchistan,  Afghanistan,  Assam,  and  South  China  to  For- 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  HI 

mosa ;  but  the  three  specimens  exhibited  were  taken  in 
northern  Japan,  where  the  existence  of  this  species  seems  to 
be  established  beyond  question. 

The  Japanese  Black  Bear,  (Ursus  japonicus},  from  north- 
ern Japan,  is  one  of  the  smallest  of  living  bears,  being  only 
slightly  larger  than  the  Malay  sun  bear.  In  general  ap- 
pearance it  suggests  a  small  edition  of  the  American  black 
bear.  The  first  specimen  exhibited  at  the  Zoological  Park 
was  very  good-natured,  but  all  those  received  since  are 
nervous  and  irritable,  and  also  very  timid. 

The  Sloth  Bear,  (Ursus  labiatus],  often  called  the  Long- 
Lipped  Bear,  can  be  recognized  as  far  as  it  can  be  seen  by  its 
shaggy  mop  of  enormously  long,  black  hair,  its  white  muz- 
zle, and  its  very  long,  white  claws.  It  is  a  creature  of  many 
peculiarities.  It  inhabits  India  generally  in  forest  regions. 

LIST   OF  BEARS   IN  THE   ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 

May  1,  1907. 

1  Polar  Bear Ursus  maritimus from  Nova  Zembla. 

2  Yakutat  Bears Ursus  dalli '•     Alaska. 

1  Peninsula  Bear Ursus  merriami "  Alaska  Peninsula. 

1  Admiralty  Bear Ursus  eulophiis "  Adm.  Is.,  Alaska. 

1  Grizzly  Bear Ursus  horribilis "  Colorado. 

"  Yukon  Terr. 

1       "           "  "  Wyoming. 

1  Black  Bear Ursus  americanus "  Pennsylvania. 

1  "  Virginia. 

3  "  Alaska. 

'  West  Ontario. 

"  Wisconsin. 

1       "  "  Mexico. 

1  Cinnamon  Bear '  '  Colorado. 

1  "  WTyoming. 

2  Syrian  Bears Ursus  syriacus "  Asiatic  Turkey. 

3  Brown  Bears Ursus  arctos "  Central  Russia. 

2  Hairy-Eared  Bears.  . . .  Ursus  piscator "  N.  W.  Mongolia. 

1  Himalayan  Black  Bear.LVsws  torquatus "  Japan. 

Uapanese  Bear Ursus  japonicus "  Japan. 

1  Sloth  Bear Ursus  labiatus "     India. 

2  Yezo  Bears Ursus  ferox "     Yezo,  Japan. 

2  Malay  Sun  Bears Ursus  malayanus "     Borneo. 

3  Half-breed  Bears Ursus  piscator-arctos ....  Born  here. 

35  specimens,  representing  14  species.    - 

The  Malayan  Sun  Bear,  (Ursus  malayanus),  is  the  smallest 
bear  in  the  world,  also  the  ugliest  and  the  most  ill-tempered. 
When  fully  enraged,  it  sometimes  barks  like  a  dog.  Its  hair 
is  very  short  and  close,  and  its  head  and  feet  seem  to  be  too 
large  for  its  body.  This  species  inhabits  Borneo,  Sumatra, 
the  Malay  Peninsula  and  Farther  India.  Two  specimens  will 
be  found  in  the  Small-Mammal  House. 


112 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


LONG-LIPPED    SLOTH    BEAR. 

THE  RACCOON  TREE. 

The  Raccoons'  Tree. — A  permanent  installation  for  Rac- 
coons has  been  established  near  the  southern  end  of  the 
Bear  Dens,  where  its  inmates  will  be  near  their  plantigrade 
relatives.  At  the  foot  of  the  steps  leading  down  from  the 
Rocking  Stone,  a  cedar-tree,  forty  feet  in  height,  has  been 
enclosed  by  an  elliptical  iron  fence  provided  with  a  sheet- 
metal  overhang  which  is  not  negotiable  by  any  Procyon. 
Inside  the  fence  is  a  dry  yard,  a  pool  of  water  for  all 
purposes,  and  the  trunk  of  the  tree  is  surrounded  by  a 
rustic  shelter  house,  divided  into  ten  warm  and  dry  com- 
partments. Underneath  the  house  is  a  clean  and  smooth 
wooden  floor,  on  which  the  food  is  served. 

The  smooth,  horizontal  limbs  of  a  cedar-tree  are  grateful 
and  comforting  to  a  dozing  Raccoon,  and  the  tree  is  not  so 
high  that  the  animals  can  climb  beyond  the  visual  power  of 
the  visitor. 

THE  BEAVER  POND,  No.  29. 

Hidden  away  in  a  deep  valley  between  high  hills  of  virgin 
forest  lies  the  Beaver  Pond.  The  spot  is  so  secluded,  so 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  113 

silent  and  primeval,  that  it  seems  like  the  heart  of  the 
Adirondack  wilderness.  Lying  fairly  in  the  lap  of  the 
granite  hills  is  a  three-acre  oval  of  level  swamp,  which 
recently  was  full  of  woodland  rubbish  and  choked  by  rank 
weeds.  The  seclusion  of  the  spot,  the  splendid  forest,  the 
food-wood  and  the  possibilities  of  the  dam,  all  naturally 
suggested  the  beaver. 

In  order  that  the  building  of  a  dam  by  the  beavers  would 
not  raise  the  water  level  so  high  as  to  flood  the  roots  of  a 
number  of  fine  forest  trees  and  destroy  them,  two  feet  of 
soil  was  taken  out  of  the  swamp,  and  at  the  same  time  a 
broad  outlet  was  excavated.  A  fence  of  small  iron  bars, 
with  an  overhang,  was  designed  to  encircle  an  area  of  about 
three  acres.  Within  the  enclosure  thus  made,  stand  several 
large  forest  trees — chiefly  oak,  sweet  gum,  and  maple — 
which  have  been  protected  by  guards  of  wire  and  cor- 
rugated iron.  The  small  maples,  however,  have  been  given 
over  to  the  beavers,  to  cut  down  and  use  as  food-wood  and 
also  in  their  dam-building  operations. 

The  Beaver  Colony  in  our  pond  is  in  good  working  order, 
and  its  display  of  work  makes  a  highly  satisfactory  exhibit. 
The  dam,  about  40  feet  long  and  4  feet  high,  was  built  of 
poles  and  sticks  which  were  cut,  peeled,  floated  down  and 
placed  by  the  beavers,  and  pointed  up  with  mud.  There  is 
a  house  10  feet  in  diameter  and  4  feet  high,  similarly  con- 
structed. AVithin  the  enclosure  about  twenty  saplings  and 
trees  have  been  cut  down  by  the  beavers  and  used  up  for 
food  and  building  materials. 

For  this  colony  the  Society  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Hugh  J. 
Chisholm,  who  procured  for  it  two  specimens  from  Canada 
and  three  from  Maine. 

The  American  Beaver,  (Castor  canadensis),  is  a  remark- 
able animal.  In  original  thought  it  is  equalled  by  few  ani- 
mals, and  in  industry  by  none.  With  the  possible  exception 
of  the  porcupine,  it  is  the  largest  gnawing  animal  in  North 
America,  once  was  widely  distributed,  and  its  beautiful  fur 
has  been  in  demand  ever  since  the  days  of  the  colonists. 
Unfortunately,  the  Beaver's  intelligence  was  directed  chiefly 
to  the  building  of  dams,  canals,  and  houses,  and  procuring 
an  abundant  supply  of  food-wood,  rather  than  in  providing 
itself  with  means  of  escape  from  its  arch  enemy — the  man 
with  a  steel  trap.  Because  of  the  constant  demand  for  its 
fur,  this  animal  has  been  so  nearly  exterminated  throughout 
the  United  States  that  practically  none  remains  save  where 
they  are  rigidly  protected.  At  present  the  largest  colonies 


114  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

known  are  those  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  although  in  Can- 
ada and  the  Northwest  many  still  remain. 

Th  most  wonderful  thing  about  the  Beaver  is  the  manner 
in  which  he  builds  dams,  to  make  ponds  deep  enough  for 
his  timber-floating  operations,  and  to  afford  him  a  sub- 
marine passage  to  his  house.  Give  him  a  valley  and  a 
stream  of  water,  and  he  will  gladly  make  a  pond  out  of 
whatever  raw  materials  are  at  hand.  He  uses  the  four-foot 
sticks  from  which  he  has  eaten  the  bark  for  food,  and  with 
these,  and  an  abundance  of  mud,  he  will  raise  a  good  strong 
dam  to  a  height  of  four  feet,  and  a  width  on  the  ground  of 
ten  feet  or  more.  The  mud  used  is  dug  out  of  the  bottom 
and  sides  of  his  pond,  and  carried,  while  swimming,  be- 
tween his  paws,  with  his  front  feet  holding  it  against  his 
breast.  The  sticks  used  in  the  dam  are  thrust  endwise  into 
the  mud  on  top  of  the  dam,  and  the  mud  used  is  patted 
down  with  his  fore  feet.  The  tail  is  not  used  as  a  trowel, 
but  in  swimming  it  is  the  Beaver's  propeller. 

In  captivity  the  Beaver  is  not  wholly  a  satisfactory  animal. 
Like  some  human  craftsmen,  he  positively  declines  to  work 
under  observation,  and  performs  nearly  all  his  tasks  at 
night.  He  thinks  nothing  of  gnawing  down  a  tree  a  foot 
in  diameter,  and  cutting  its  limbs  into  pieces  which  he  can 
handle  while  swimming.  If  he  can  secure  enough  food- 
wood  of  kinds  to  his  liking,  he  eats  little  else.  Besides 
building  dams  to  create  ponds  in  which  he  can  take  refuge 
when  hard  pressed,  he  constructs  canals,  and  houses  for 
winter  use.  He  also  digs  burrows  into  high  banks;  but  his 
entrances  to  his  various  homes  always  are  under  water. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


115 


SECTION  II.— BIRDS. 
THE  DUCK  AVIARY,  No.  3. 


There  are  no  birds,  which  take  more  kindly  to  captivity, 
or  which  better  repay  their  keep  and  their  keepers,  than  the 
ducks,  geese,  swans  and  pelicans.  The  only  drawback  to 
the  maintenance  of  large  collections  of  these  birds  in  this 
latitude  is  the  annual  struggle  with  our  arctic  winter.  On 
account  of  the  fierce  winter  storms  to  which  we  must  pay 
tribute,  many  species  of  swimming  birds  require  to  be  taken 
out  of  their  aviary,  and  housed  in  sheltered  buildings,  with 
moderate  warmth.  For  this  reason  the  pelicans,  tree-ducks 
of  all  species,  and  all  species  from  the  tropics,  must  neces- 
sarily be  absent  in  winter  from  their  aviary. 

For  the  accommodation  of  a  large,  systematic  collection  of 
swimming  birds,  an  aviary  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long 
by  one  hundred  and  forty-three  feet  in  width  has  been  coil- 


NEW  YOUK  ZOOLOGICAL  PAUK.  11? 

structed  in  the  north  end  of  Bird  Valley.  To  secure  as  much 
space  as  possible,  the  entire  width  of  the  open  valley  has 
been  taken  into  the  enclosure. 

The  Duck  Aviary  consists  of  a  pond  containing  three 
islands,  two  of  which  arc  subdivided  by  low  fences  of  wire 
netting  into  twelve  separate  enclosures.  In  the  central  por- 
tion of  the  South  Island  stands  a  series  of  shelter  houses, 
which  furnish  shelter  for  the  occupants  of  the  yards.  The 
North  Island  is  devoted  to  a  mixed  collection  of  large  water 
fowl— swans,  geese,  ducks,  and  other  species. 

The  aviary  has  been  so  planned  and  constructed  that  each 
enclosure  is  provided  with  a  section  of  the  pond  (three  feet 
in  depth),  grass  banks,  gravel  banks,  sanded  runways, 
shrubbery,  earth,  and  a  dry,  roofed-over  shelter  house.  The 
boundary  fence,  fortunately  for  the  visitor,  is  only  42  in.  in 
height,  this  being  sufficient  to  confine  the  short-legged 
ducks  and  geese. 

The  Mallard  Duck,  (Anas  boschas),  is  one  of  our  finest 
swimming  birds,  the  joy  of  the  sportsman  who  finds  it  in 
its  haunts,  the  delight  of  the  epicure  who  finds  it  on  the  bill 
of  fare.  Sluggish  indeed  must  be  the  blood  which  does  not 
beat  faster  at  the  sight  of  a  flock  of  wild  Mallards,  free  in 
Nature,  and  ready  to  leap  into  the  air  and  away  at  the 
slightest  alarm.  Excepting  the  wood  duck,  this  is  the  hand- 
somest duck  in  North  America,  and  also  one  of  the  finest 
for  the  table.  Its  range  covers  practically  the  whole  of 
the  western  continent  down  to  Panama,  and  even  extends 
to  the  Azores,  north  Africa,  and  northern  India.  The 
drakes  are  readily  recognized  by  the  splendid  iridescent 
green  of  the  head. 

The  Green- Winged  Teal,  (Nettion  carolinensis} ,  and  Blue- 
Winged  Teal,  (Querquedula  discors),  are  very  delicate  birds, 
and  therefore  rather  difficult  to  maintain  in  captivity.  A 
flock  of  each  will  be  found  in  the  Flying  Cage. 

The  Pintail  Duck,  (Dafila  acuta),  is  specially  commended 
to  the  notice  of  visitors  because  of  its  great  beauty,  both 
in  color  and  form.  Its  colors  form  an  exquisite  harmony  of 
soft  brown  and  gray  tones  which  fairly  rival  the  more 
gaudy  color-pattern  of  the  wood  duck.  The  species  is  yet 
found  occasionally  along  the  Atlantic  Coast,  but  like  all 
other  edible  birds,  its  numbers  are  rapidly  diminishing. 
This  species  will  be  found  on  Cope  Lake  and  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond,  as  well  as  in  the  south  end  of  the  Duck  Aviary. 

The  Mandarin  Duck,  (Aix  galericulata),  is  the  Chinese 
counterpart  of  our  beautiful  Wood  or  Summer  Duck,  (Aix 


118 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


UPLAND  GOOSE. 


sponsa}.  Of  all  living  ducks,  the  males  of  these  two 
are  the  most  gorgeously  colored  and  plumed,  and  they  are 
also  of  elegant  form.  Although  both  species  are  much 
sought  after,  the  number  of  available  specimens  continues 
to  be  limited  to  a  comparatively  small  number. 

The  Canvas-Back,  (Aythya  vallisneria),  and  the  Red-Head, 
(A.  americana),  two  prime  favorites  with  the  sportsman  and 
epicure,  are  exhibited  in  the  south  end  of  the  Duck  Aviary. 
Of  the  latter,  a  good-sized  flock  is  shown.  Canvas-Backs, 
however,  are  difficult  to  capture  unhurt,  and  still  more 
difficult  to  keep  alive  in  captivity,  and  for  these  reasons  the 
number  exhibited  always  is  very  small. 

The  Geese.— The  collection  of  wild  geese  in  the  Zoological 
Park  is  unusually  complete,  there  being  generally  about 
fifteen  out  of  the  thirty-five  known  species.  Among  these 
one  of  the  best  known  is  the  Common  Wild,  or  Canada 
Goose,  (Branta  canadensis).  Once  common  throughout 
many  parts  of  the  United  States,  continual  persecution  by 
sportsmen  and  market  hunters  has  so  generally  reduced  its 
numbers,  that  it  is  now  of  comparatively  rare  occurrence. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


119 


COSCOROBA  SWANS. 

This  exceeding  rarity  made  the  arrival  of  nine  superb 
specimens  on  November  8,  1900,  on  the  Wild-Fowl  Pond,  a 
most  interesting  event.  Seven  of  the  birds,  including  a  fine 
gander,  through  the  artifice  of  a  trap,  were  induced  to  re- 
main with  us,  and  have  taken  up  a  peaceful  abode  on  the 
little  lake,  with  others  of  their  kind  presented  by  Mr.  A.  B. 
Frost. 

The  African  Spur-Winged  Goose,  (Plectropterus  gamben- 
sis),  although  of  large  size,  is  more  properly  a  duck  than  a 
goose.  A  long  sharp  spur  arises  from  the  bend  of  each 
wing,  which  the  birds  use  in  fighting  with  each  other  for 
their  mates. 

The  Wild  Gray-Lag  Goose,  (Anser  anser),  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  interesting  of  all  geese,  as  being  the  wild  species  from 
which  our  domestic  birds  are  descended.  The  white  color 
and  large  size  are  the  chief  differences  between  the  domestic 
and  wild  birds. 

The  White-Fronted  Goose,  (Anser  albifrons),  is  worthy  of 
special  notice  because  it  is  the  handsomest  of  the  ten  species 
of  North  American  geese.  The  breeding  grounds  are  far 
to  the  north,  and  in  Alaska  the  nests  are  mere  hollows  in 
the  sand,  lined  with  moss  and  down. 

The  Bar-Headed  Goose,    (Eulabia  indica),  inhabits  the 


120  POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

mountains  of  Central  Asia,  nesting  always  over  a  mile  above 
the  sea.    It  is  perhaps  the  handsomest  of  all  geese. 

The  Swans. — Usually  at  least  six  out  of  the  seven  known 
species  of  Swans  may  be  seen  on  exhibition  here. 

The  Mute  Swan,  (Cygnus  olor},  is  the  commonest  swan  in 
captivity,  and  is  the  one  made  famous  in  European  history 
and  legend.  It  may  always  be  known  from  the  other  spe- 
cies by  the  black  knob  at  the  base  of  the  bill.  It  breeds 
freely  in  captivity  and  the  young  birds  are  known  as 
cygnets. 

The  Trumpeter  Swan,  (Cygnus  buccinator],  being  the  larg- 
est bird  in  the  aviary,  and  also  snowy  white,  is  therefore 
the  most  conspicuous.  Several  fine  specimens  are  shown  on 
the  North  Island,  living  contentedly  with  other  species. 
Some  of  these  specimens  were  captured  in  Idaho,  when 
young  enough  to  take  kindly  to  captivity. 

The  Black  Swan,  (Chenopsis  atrata'),  of  South  Australia 
and  Tasmania,  is  as  glossy  black,  excepting  its  primaries, 
as  other  swans  are  white.  It  is  a  large  and  handsome  bird, 
and  much  sought  by  all  persons  who  form  collections  of 
water  fowl. 

The  Coscoroba  Swan,  (Coscoroba  coscoroba},  is  a  fair  con- 
necting link  between  the  swans  and  the  ducks,  partaking 
about  equally  of  the  characters  of  each.  In  size  and  color 
it  is  very  much  like  our  snow  goose,  (Chen  hyperborca),  but 
it  is  peculiar  in  possessing  very  long  legs  of  a  bright  pink 
color,  by  which  it  is  quickly  recognized.  Its  bill,  also,  is 
pink,  and  the  tips  of  its  primaries  are  black.  The  Coscoroba 
Swan  is  a  native  of  southern  South  America,  and  a  fe\y  years 
ago  specimens  were  so  rare  in  captivity  that  a  pair  sold 
for  $300. 


THE  FLYING  CAGE,  No.  4. 

This  mammoth  bird-cage  is  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
Zoological  Park.  It  represents  an  attempt  to  do  for  certain 
large  and  showy  water  birds,  precisely  what  has  been  done 
for  the  hoofed' animals,  the  beaver,  otter,  and  other  spe- 
cies— give  them  a  section  of  Nature's  own  domain.  In  this 
they  can  fly  to  and  fro,  build  nests  and  rear  their  young  in 
real  freedom. 

Near  the  lower  end  of  Bird  Valley,  as  a  sort  of  climax 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  121 

for  the  Duck  Aviary  when  seen  from  the  north,  rises  a  lofty, 
web-like  structure,  in  the  form  of  a  huge,  gothic  arch.  It  is 
55  feet  in  height,  75  feet  wide,  and  152  feet  long.  The 
whole  structure  consists  of  a  series  of  steel-pipe  arches  and 
purlins,  the  former  eight  feet  apart,  over  which  wire-netting 
has  been  tightly  stretched. 

The  wire-netting  seems  peculiarly  open.  It  is  of  the  kind 
known  as  chain-netting,  which  offers  the  least  possible 
obstruction  to  the  eye.  This  cage  is  so  large  that  a  very 
respectable  block  of  houses,  three  stories  high  and  of  ample 
dimensions,  could  stand  within  it  without  touching  the  wire. 
It  completely  encloses  three  forest  trees  of  very  consider- 
able size,  two  hickories  and  an  oak;  and  it  contains  a  pool 
of  water  a  hundred  feet  long,  and  shrubbery  in  abundance. 

The  idea  of  a  very  large  cage  for  herons  and  egrets,  is  not 
new,  for  there  are  in  existence  several  other  flying  cages, 
somewhat  smaller  than  this.  The  first  was  erected  in  the 
Rotterdam  Zoological  Garden  by  its  Director,  the  late  Dr. 
A.  Von  Bemmelin,  whose  experiment  proved  very  successful. 
Others  are  at  London  and  in  the  Paris  Jardin  d'Acclimata- 
tion. 

The  Flying  Cage  is  the  summer  home  of  a  mixed  flock  of 
such  large  and  showy  water  birds  as  are  most  inclined  to 
fly  about  within  it,  and  afford  students  and  the  public  an 
opportunity  to  study  their  movements  and  attitudes.  Save 
for  such  allowances  as  must  be  made  for  accidents  and 
epidemics,  this  enclosure  will  contain  the  following  note- 
worthy species,  along  with  others  of  less  importance : 

The  American  Flamingo,  (Phoenicopterns  rnber},  is,  in 
appearance,  a  connecting  link  between  the  herons  and 
ducks,  resembling  the  former  in  the  great  length  of  its  legs, 
and  the  latter  in  the  duck-like  bill,  and  webbed  feet.  When 
the  plumage  of  this  species  is  perfect,  it  is  of  a  beautiful 
scarlet  color  throughout,  excepting  the  primaries,  which 
are  black.  In  captivity,  the  color  fades  somewhat.  This 
bird  is  found  in  the  Bahama  Islands  and  Cuba,  but  in  Flor- 
ida, where  once  it  was  fairly  numerous,  it  no  longer  exists. 
Fortunately,  this  remarkable  bird  takes  kindly  to  captivity, 
and  the  Zoological  Park  is  never  without  a  good-sized  flock. 
Their  strange  form,  showy  colors  and  droll  attitudes  render 
them  unusually  interesting  to  visitors. 

With  the  birds  of  the  above  species  are  shown  a  few  speci- 
mens of  the  European  Flamingo,  (P.  roseus),  which  is  al- 
most white.  The  only  parts  which  show  the  characteristic 


122  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

scarlet  of  this  genus,  are  the  wing  coverts,  which  are  pale 
red,  or  pink. 

The  Scarlet  Ibis,  (Guara  rubra),  is  for  its  size  the  most 
showy  bird  in  existence,  not  even  excepting  the  birds  of 
paradise.  Excepting  the  black  primaries,  every  feather  on 
the  adult  bird  in  perfect  plumage  is  of  a  brilliant  Chinese 
vermilion  color,  visible  in  nature  for  a  long  distance.  The 
immature  birds  are  mottled  and  patched  with  white.  This 
species  once  came  as  far  north  as  southern  Florida,  but  now 
it  is  found  only  from  Cuba  southward.  They  frequent  the 
mud  banks  at  the  various  mouths  of  the  Orinoco,  and  not 
long  since  were  quite  abundant  on  the  coast  of  British 
Guiana. 

The  White-Faced  Glossy  Ibis,  (Plegadis  guarauna),  is  not 
a  rare  bird  in  captivity,  and  it  will  doubtless  be  possible  to 
maintain  this  species  perpetually  in  the  Flying  Cage  and 
Aquatic  Bird  House. 

The  Wood  Ibis,  (Tantalus  loculator). — The  Park  obtains 
its  supply  of  birds  of  this  species  from  Florida,  where  they 
breed,  in  very  greatly  reduced  numbers,  on  the  headwaters 
of  the  St.  Johns.  This  bird  is  a  very  satisfactory  member  of 
avian  society.  Although  amply  large  to  lord  it  over  the 
other  birds  of  the  cage,  he  quarrels  with  none,  but  peace- 
fully goes  his  way,  feeling  with  the  point  of  his  beak  along 
the  sandy  bottom  of  the  pool  for  something  edible,  or  stand- 
ing in  quiet  meditation  on  the  bank.  Notwithstanding  its 
common  name,  this  bird  is  not  an  ibis,  but  a  true  stork.  In 
its  black  and  white  plumage  it  is  quite  a  handsome  bird. 
Although  not  so  fond  of  using  its  wings  in  captivity  as  are 
herons  and  egrets,  the  Wood  Ibis  is  for  many  reasons  a  very 
welcome  tenant. 

The  White  Stork,  (Ciconia  ciconia},  is  as  large  as  our 
wood  ibis,  which  it  strongly  resembles  in  form  and  habits. 
This  bird  is  literally  the  household  bird  of  Germany,  and  its 
place  in  the  family  has  now  become  of  more  importance 
than  its  place  in  nature.  Throughout  Holland,  Germany, 
and  very  nearly  the  whole  of  eastern  and  central  Europe, 
the  White  Stork  is  so  prized  and  protected  by  the  people 
that  it  has  attained  a  state  of  semi-domestication.  Nesting 
places  are  prepared  for  it,  usually  near  or  even  upon  human 
habitations,  and  it  enjoys  an  immunity  from  molestation 
quite  like  that  of  the  adjutant  in  India. 

The  Great  Blue  Heron,  (Ardea  herodias],  is  frequently 
called  the  "blue  crane";  but  the  latter  name  is  a  misnomer. 
It  properly  belongs  to  our  sandhill  crane  (Grus  canadensis} , 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


123 


GRE.AT    WHITE   HERON. 

Dust  why  so  large  a  number  of  people  should  be  so  persis- 
tent in  this  error  is  a  psychological  problem;  but  the  fact 
remains  that  people  will  not  say  "heron." 

This  Great  Blue  Heron  is  the  largest  and  most  noteworthy 
bird  of  our  northern  marshes.  Thanks  to  the  fact  that  it 
bears  no  desirable  "plumes,"  and  its  flesh  is  not  edible,  it 
has  been  permitted  to  live.  When  not  molested,  it  becomes 
quite  trustful,  and  when  wading  along  a  shore,  fishing  for 
minnows,  it  affords  for  the  field-glass  or  the  camera  a  very 
interesting  subject.  In  summer  these  birds  are  quite  numer- 
ous in  the  marshes  along  the  Shrewsbury  River,  between 
Sandy  Hook  and  Long  Branch,  and  they  are  an  unfailing 
source  of  interest  to  excursionists,  It  is  sincerely  to  be 


124  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

hoped  that  the  evil  eye  of  "Dame  Fashion"  will  not  fall 
upon  this  bird,  and  cause  its  extermination. 

The  Great  White  Heron,  (Ardea  americana),  is  taller  than 
the  great  blue  heron,  and  it  is  the  largest  of  all  the  white 
herons  and  egrets.  Like  the  whooping  crane,  it  is  now  a 
bird  of  such  exceeding  rarity  that  the  procuring  of  a  speci- 
men may  be  counted  a  stroke  of  good  fortune.  In  eight 
years  the  Zoological  Park  has  secured  only  three  specimens, 
all  of  which  came  from  southern  Florida. 

The  Little  Blue  Heron,  (Florida  caerulea}. — The  imma- 
ture birds  of  this  species  are  snowy  white,  and  so  closely 
resemble  snowy  herons  of  the  same  age,  that  only  one  well 
acquainted  with  both  can  distinguish  between  them.  They 
are,  however,  separately  recognized  by  the  fact  that  the 
snowy  heron  has  black  legs,  and  a  black  bill,  whereas  the 
legs  and  bill  of  the  Little  Blue  Heron  are  pale  yellow.  This 
species  is  still  common  in  some  parts  of  its  Florida  home, 
and  occasionally  a  specimen  strays  as  far  north  as  Staten 
Island. 

The  Louisiana  Heron,  (Hydranassa  tricolor  ruficollis),  once 
very  numerous  in  Florida,  is  still  found  there,  but  in  greatly 
reduced  numbers.  It  ranges  from  Central  America  and  the 
West  Indies  northward  to  the  Gulf  States,  and  occasionally 
to  Long  Island.  The  general  coloring  is  dark  blue,  but  a 
prominent  distinguishing  character  is  the  chestnut  brown 
on  the  sides  of  the  neck. 

The  Black-Crowned  Night  Heron,  (Nycticorax  nycticorax 
naevius),  is  one  of  the  commonest  herons  about  New  York 
City  and  occasionally  nests  in  the  Park  itself.  It  breeds  in 
large  colonies,  and  feeds  chiefly  at  night.  Its  note  is  a 
hoarse  quok,  very  much  like  the  bark  of  a  dog. 

The  Snowy  Heron,  or  Snowy  Egret,  (Egretta  candidis- 
sima},  when  fully  adult,  is  the  most  beautiful  white  bird  in 
all  the  avian  world.  Its  form  is  the  embodiment  of  sym- 
metry and  grace,  its  plumage  is  immaculate,  and  the  filmy 
"plumes"  on  its  head  and  back  are  like  spun  glass.  Its 
black  legs  and  bill  merely  serve  to  intensify  the  whiteness 
of  its  feathers.  The  vanity  of  woman  has  been  the  curse  of 
the  Snowy  Egret.  Its  plumes  are  finest  during  the  breeding 
season,  and  it  was  then  that  the  hunters  sought  them, 
slaughtering  the  old  birds  in  the  rookeries  by  thousands 
(when  they  were  abundant),  and  leaving  the  nestlings  to 
die  of  starvation.  If  ail  women  could  know  the  price  in 
blood  and  suffering  which  is  paid  for  the  accursed  "aig- 
rettes" of  fashion,  surely  but  few  could  find  any  pleasure 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL   PARK.  125 

in  wearing  them.  It  is  strange  that  civilized  woman — the 
tender-hearted,  the  philanthropic,  and  the  ever-compassion- 
ate— should  prove  to  he  the  evil  genius  of  the  world's  most 
beautiful  birds. 

In  the  United  States  the  Snowy  Egret  now  exists  only  by 
accident,  and  the  "plume  hunters"  are  pursuing  this  and 
the  following  species  in  Central  and  South  America,  to  their 
most  remote  haunts,  sometimes  even  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives.  Fashion  has  decreed  that  the  egrets  must  go. 

The  American  Egret,  (Herodias  egretta),  is,  when  adult, 
one  of  our  largest  birds  with  pure  white  plumage.  Much 
to  the  misfortune  of  this  species,  it  possesses  about  fifty 
"aigrette"  plumes  which  droop  in  graceful  curves  from  the 
middle  of  its  back  far  beyond  the  tail  and  wing  tips.  For 
these  beautiful  feathers  this  bird  has  been  pursued  by 
plume  hunters  almost  to  the  point  of  total  extermination. 
The  Society  exhibits  a  good-sized  flock  of  these  birds. 

The  White  Pelican,  (Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos] ,  is  one  of 
the  largest  birds  of  North  America  and  by  reason  of  his 
size,  his  pure  white  plumage,  his  enormously  long  amber- 
colored  bill  and  gular  pouch,  he  is  one  of  the  most  showy 
birds  in  the  aviary.  As  consumers  of  fish  they  stand  pre- 
eminent among  birds,  and  their  only  rivals  here  are  the 
sea-lions.  The  specimens  exhibited  were  collected  for  the 
Society  in  southern  Texas. 

The  Brown  Pelican,  (Pelecamis  occidentalis) ,  when  adult, 
is  a  handsome  and  showy  bird,  and  one  which  not  only  is 
easily  reconciled  to  life  in  a  comfortable  aviary,  but  posi- 
tively enjoys  it.  The  specimens  in  the  collection  frequently 
build  their  bulky  nests  of  sticks,  and  occasionally  lay  eggs. 
They  were  collected  for  the  Society  on  Pelican  Island,  Flor- 
ida, and  their  interesting  home  life  at  that  place  may  be 
studied  from  the  series  of  photographs  on  exhibition  in  the 
Aquatic  Bird  House.  When  their  daily  allowance  of  fish 
appears  they  crowd  around  their  keeper,  and  with  wide 
open  pouches  earnestly  solicit  contributions. 

THE  AQUATIC  BIRD  HOUSE,  No.  5. 

This  building  is  the  result  of  an  attempt  to  solve  an  old 
problem  in  a  new  way— the  care  of  large  migratory  water 
birds  in  the  most  uneven  winter  climate  on  earth.  In  com- 
parison with  the  care  in  winter  of  flamingoes,  large  herons, 


126  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE.  , 

egrets,  ibises,  and  the  like,  the  housing  of  perching  birds, 
birds  of  prey  and  the  parrots,  presents  few  difficulties.  But 
the  wealth  of  fine  water  birds  in  North  America  alone,  and 
the  interest  attaching  to  them,  seem  to  justify  the  labor 
and  expense  that  have  been  involved  in  this  building  and 
its  appointments. 

The  Small  Flying1  Cage. — The  dimensions  of  the  building 
are  63x50  feet.  Its  whole  central  area  is  occupied  by  a 
large  cage  16  feet  wide,  38  feet  long,  and  16  feet  high,  filled 
with  a  choice  mixed  collection  of  flamingoes,  brown  pelicans, 
swans,  egrets,  storks,  ibises,  and  ducks.  The  bottom  of  the 
cage  contains  a  spacious  pool  of  running  water,  surrounded 
by  banks  of  sand  and  gravel. 

Along  the  side  walls  of  the  building  are  two  rows  of  cages, 
seven  on  each  side,  which  contain  groups  of  birds  that  are 
closely  related  to  each  other.  Usually,  each  cage  is  filled 
with  birds  of  the  same  group.  These  cages  also  contain 
running  water,  and  an  abundance  of  gravel.  In  the  center 
of  the  series  along  the  eastern  wall  is 

The  Diving-Bird  Tank.— This  is  a  large  aquarium  tank  9 
feet  long,  5  feet  wide,  and  4  feet  deep,  with  plates  of  glass 
1  inch  in  thickness  on  the  front  and  both  ends.  It  is  filled 
with  clear  water,  in  which  the  movements  of  diving  birds 
under  water  may  be  studied  in  detail.  This  exhibition  calls 
special  attention  to  the  darters,  penguins,  puffins,  auks  and 
other  birds  that  have  been  fitted  by  nature  for  life  and 
activity  under  water,  and  by  which  even  the  flightless  spe- 
cies procure  an  abundant  supply  of  food.  A  penguin  under 
water  is  a  sight  to  be  remembered.  This  feature  was  copied 
from  the  London  Zoological  Garden. 

In  order  to  suggest  the  haunts  of  the  water  birds  inhabit- 
ing the  Aquatic  Bird  House,  to  give  distance,  and  to  elimin- 
ate the  dead  walls  which  never  seem  so  sadly  out  of  place 
as  behind  cages  filled  with  living  creatures,  the  walls  behind 
the  side  cages  of  the  interior  have  been  very  artistically  de- 
corated, in  oil  colors,  by  Mr.  Robert  Blum.  The  entire 
western  wall  is  occupied  by  a  tropical  landscape  represent- 
ing a  scene  on  the  edge  of  the  Florida  everglades,  while  the 
eastern  cages  have  for  a  background  a  northern  marsh 
scene,  highly  suggestive  of  the  marshes  along  the  Shrews- 
bury River,  New  Jersey,  with  the  Navesink  Highlands  in 
the  distance.  The  artistic  effect  of  these  landscape  back- 
grounds is  very  pleasing. 

Inasmuch  as  the  water  birds  shown  in  this  building  are 
the  same  species  that  have  been  described  in  the  section 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


127 


GYRFAI.CON. 

devoted  to   the  Flying  Cage,  it   is  unnecessary  to  repeat 
descriptions  here. 

The  Exterior  Cages. — Although  the  ten  large  cages  on 
the  exterior  of  the  Bird  House  belong  to  the  Aquatic  Birds, 
until  the  great  Eagle  and  Vulture  Aviary  has  been  erected 
they  must  be  occupied  by  the  birds  of  prey.  The  following 
are  a  few  of  the  most  conspicuous  species : 

Bald  Eagle,  (Haliaetus  leucocephalus}. — The  appearance 
of  the  adult  Bald  Eagle,  our  National  emblem,  with  its  con- 
spicuous white  head  and  tail,  is  familiar  to  all ;  but  the  im- 
mature birds,  as  shown  by  several  of  the  specimens,  lack  the 
white  in  their  plumage.  These  birds  are  found  usually  near 
water,  and  their  food  is  chiefly  fish.  These  they  sometimes 
catch  for  themselves,  but  if  ospreys  are  found  in  the  vicinity, 
they  are  watched  by  the  eagles,  and  often  robbed  of  their 
hard-earned  prey. 


128  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

Recently  many  scores  of  these  splendid  birds  have  been 
killed,  as  a  result  of  fashion's  latest  whim — calling  for  long 
quill  feathers  for  women's  hats. 

Black  Vulture,  (Catharista  urubu.}—  These  ill-favored  but 
very  useful  birds  are  quite  abundant,  and  even  semi-domes- 
ticated, in  some  of  our  southern  cities.  This  is  due  to  the 
protection  accorded  them,  because  of  their  valuable  services 
as  scavengers.  They  are  said  to  devour  every  particle  of 
exposed  organic  refuse,  and  in  a  warm  climate  these  services 
are  of  more  value  than  we  in  the  north  can  realize.  The 
bare  head  enables  the  bird  to  feed  without  danger  of  soiling 
its  feathers. 

The  Red-Tailed  Hawk,  (Buteo  borealis}.— The  "Hen 
Hawk,"  or  "Chicken  Hawk,"  is  one  of  our  commonest  birds 
of  prey.  It  hardly  merits  its  common  name,  as  its  favorite 
food  is  mice  and  other  small  mammals.  This  is  the  hawk 
seen,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  going  south  in  flocks,  sometimes 
of  one  hundred  or  more.  Its  distinguishing  mark  is  its  rich 
rufous  tail,  and  its  four  notched  outer  wing  feathers.  The 
hats  of  our  lady  friends  afford  abundant  opportunities  for 
the  study  of  these  feathers. 

The  Snowy  Owl,  (Nyctea  nyctea),  of  the  Arctic  regions, 
migrating  in  winter  to  the  northern  United  States,  some- 
times remains  for  several  seasons  in  succession  so  far  north 
that  no  specimens  are  obtainable.  During  1899,  1900,  and 
the  first  half  of  1901,  not  one  specimen  could  be  procured, 
but  in  the  late  autumn  of  1901  a  southward  migration  be- 
gan. On  June  1,  1902,  the  Park  exhibited  eight  fine  speci- 
mens, one  of  which  was  almost  pure  white.  During  the 
three  hottest  months  of  summer,  these  birds  would  suffer 
considerably,  so  during  this  period  they  are  confined  in  a 
cool,  dark  cellar,  thus  keeping  in  perfect  health  and  comfort 
throughout  the  year. 

The  Great  Horned  Owl,  (Bubo  virginianus) . — These  noc- 
turnal birds  of  prey  inhabit  heavily  wooded  regions,  feed- 
ing on  mice,  and  poultry  when  it  is  obtainable.  The  bright 
yellow  iris,  the  conspicuous  feather  horns,  and  the  appar- 
ently pivoted  neck  are  curious  features  of  these  birds. 
Their  reputation  for  wisdom  is  founded  only  on  their  ex- 
ternal appearance,  for  in  reality  they  are  rather  dull  birds. 

The  Barred  Owl,  (Syrnium  varium). — This  owl  is  more 
diurnal  than  its  nearest  relatives,  and  often  hunts  itsj)rey 
in  bright  sunshine.  Its  deep,  penetrating  call,  "whoo-o-o, 
whoo-o-o,' '  is  one  of  the  most  weird  and  striking  cries  of  the 
bird  world.  Another  peculiarity,  common  to  all  owls,  but 
more  noticeable  in  this  less  nocturnal  species^  is  the  absolute- 


NEW  YOKE  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


120 


SPECTACLE    OWL. 


ly  noiseless  flight.  The  soft,  downy  feathers  of  the  owl 
permit  it  to  wing  its  way  through  the  air  with  as  little  noise 
as  a  falling  leaf. 

The  Screech  Owl,  (Otus  asio). — This  little  horned  owl  is 
our  commonest  species,  and  frequents  the  neighborhood  of 
dwellings  and  orchards.  Being  nocturnal  it  is  more  com- 
mon than  is  generally  supposed,  and  its  curious  cry,  which 
is  not  a  screech,  but  a  musical,  quavering  series  of  notes,  is 
the  cause  most  frequently  leading  to  its  discovery.  Its  two 
phases  of  plumage,  red  and  gray,  occur  independently  of 
sex,  age  or  season.  Its  food  consists  of  mice  and  insects. 

The  Florida  Burrowing  Owl,  (Speotyto  cunicularia  flori- 
dana). — The  habits  of  the  Florida  Burrowing  Owl  differ 
somewhat  from  those  of  its  western  congener.  There  being 
no  prairie-dogs  in  Florida,  these  birds  make  all  their  exca- 
vations for  themselves.  These  are  about  six  feet  in  depth, 
and  at  the  end  the  round,  white  eggs  are  laid,  usually  six 
in  number.  The  anomalous  habits  of  these  birds  and  their 
curious  little  gnome-like  faces  make  them  interesting  in- 
mates of  a  zoological  garden. 


130  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

THE  WILD  TURKEY  ENCLOSURE,  No.  33. 

At  the  northern  end  of  Squirrel  Ridge,  where  the  Alli- 
gator Walk  intersects  the  Rodent  Walk,  an  ideal  quarter  of 
an  acre,  of  oak  and  hickory  trees,  underbrush,  and  bare  rock, 
has  been  dedicated  to  the  king  of  game  birds. 

The  Wild  Turkey,  (Meleagris  gallopavo  silvestris),  is  a 
bird  of  magnificent  size  and  presence,  and  the  splendid  me- 
tallic luster  of  his  plumage — a  mixture  of  burnished  bronze 
copper,  lapis  lazuli,  and  fire  opal  iridescence — backed  up 
by  a  great  bulk  of  savory  flesh,  all  combine  to  make  this  the 
finest  game  bird  on  earth.  It  was  once  fairly  abundant 
throughout  the  eastern  United  States,  and  still  is  found  in 
Pennsylvania,  southern  Ohio,  Virginia,  and  other  Southern 
States  as  far  west  as  Texas.  Three  other  species  of  Melea- 
gris are  now  recognized — one  in  Florida,  one  in  southern 
Texas  and  northeastern  Mexico,  and  the  fourth  in  Mexico, 
extending  to  western  Texas  and  Arizona. 

THE  LARGE  BIRD-HOUSE,  No.  7. 

On  the  northwest  quarter  of  Baird  Court  stands  the  larg- 
est and  the  most  generously  equipped  home  for  perching 
birds  now  in  existence.  This  is  not  an  unnecessary  boast, 
but  merely  a  brief  statement  of  a  fact  which  the  visitor  has 
a  right  to  know.  It  was  designed  on  our  long-established 
principle  that  every  captive  wild  creature  is  entitled  to 
life,  exercise  and  happiness.  Our  principle  of  very  large 
cages,  with  many  birds  in  each  cage,  is  just  the  reverse  of 
the  views  that  have  prevailed  in  the  older  zoological  gardens, 
even  down  to  the  present  day.  To  an  important  extent,  the 
cage  equipment  of  this  building  represents  a  new  departure 
There  are  many  zoologists  with  experience  longer  than  ours 
who  believe  that  small  birds  thrive  better  and  live  longer 
when  installed  in  small  cages,  with  only  one  or  two  birds  in 
each. 

The  new  Bird-House,  specially  designed  for  Passerine 
birds,  was  developed  on  the  strength  of  experiments  pre- 
viously made  in  the  Aquatic  Bird  House,  and  in  community 
cages  outside.  After  twenty  months'  experience  with  the 
new  building,  and  a  careful  tabulation  of  diseases  and  death 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  131 

rates  within  it,  we  are  able  to  state  that  this  installation 
is  a  complete  and  gratifying  success,  even  beyond  our  antic- 
ipations. 

The  Large  Bird-House  is  an  L-shaped  building,  with  an 
all-glass  house  in  its  angle.  The  main  hall  extends  east  and 
west,  and  it  is  60  feet  long  by  50  feet  wide.  This  great 
room  contains  the  foreign  song-birds,  many  tropical  doves 
and  pigeons,  and  such  tropical  varieties  and  oddities  as  the 
great  crowned  pigeons,  tinamous,  toucans,  giant  king-fishers 
and  hornbills.  In  the  great  central  flying  cage  there  is  per- 
haps the  most  remarkable  omnium- gatherum  of  small  tropical 
birds — swimmers,  waders,  upland  game  birds  and  perch- 
ers — ever  brought  together  in  one  cage.  The  bottom  of 
the  L  is  the  Parrots'  Hall,  65x^0  feet.  It  contains  the  par- 
rots, macaws,  cockatoos,  and  a  few  other  species. 

In  the  angle  of  the  main  building  stands  a  structure  al- 
most wholly  composed  of  metal  and  glass,  which  is  known  as 
the  Glass  Court.  It  was  designed  especially  for  North  Amer- 
ican song-birds.  The  visitor  should  not  overlook  the  fact 
that  there  are  cages  filled  with  birds  all  along  both  the  east- 
ern and  western  sides  of  the  Large  Bird-House. 

The  capacity  of  this  installation  as  a  whole  may  be  judged 
from  the  following  memorandum  of  cages: 

APPROXIMATE  SIZES  OF  CAGES  OP  THE  LARGE  BIRD-HOUSE 

INDOORS. 

No. 

Main  Hall.  .  .Central  Flying  Cage.  .15x36x20  feet  high. .  1 

Side  Cages                     5x5x9  35 

End  Cages                      5x12x9  2 

Parrot  Hall . .  Side  Cages                     Gx8x9  21 

Glass  Court.  .West  Cages                   8x9x9  6 

East  &  North  Cages.. 5x6x8  16 

OUTDOORS. 

Northeast  Cages  7x12x10  2 

East  Cages  6x8x10  10 

Southeast  Circular  Flight  Cage  20x20x20  1 

South  Cages  6x8x10  3 

Large  Western  Cages  15x15x15  3 

Smaller  Western  Cages  6x9x10  14 

Total  number  of  cages 114 

Regarding  the  state  of  health  and  spirits  of  the  birds  in 
this  building,  the  visitor  must  be  left  to  judge  for  himself. 
It  is  only  fair  to  state,  however,, that  the  death  rate  here 


132  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


SDLPHUR-CRESTED   COCKATOO. 

and  indeed  amongst  the  birds  of  the  Park  generally,  is 
very  low. 

In  view  of  the  great  number  of  avian  species  inhabiting 
the  Large  Bird-House,  it  is  a  practical  impossibility  to  give 
more  than  a  general  outline  of  the  groups  and  leading  feat- 
ures of  the  collection. 

As  the  visitor  enters  at  the  south  door,  nearest  the  Lion 
House,  he  is  greeted  by  a  discordant  chorus  of  ear-piercing 
shrieks  and  squawks,  joyous  but  very  raucous,  and  at  times 
too  persistent.  Loudest  are  the  voices  of  the  gorgeously- 
plumaged  Blue-and- Yellow  Macaw,  (Ara  ararauna)  ;  the  Red- 
and-Blue  Macaw,  (Ara  macao),  and  the  Great  Green  Macaw. 
Around  their  cages  there  is  no  such  thing  as  stagnation  or 
somnolence.  The  soft-hued  Rosella  Parakeets,  the  flock  of 
mostly-green  Cuban  Parrots,  the  Leadbeater  Cockatoos  and 
the  White  Cockatoos  all  join  in  their  voices,  to  the  limit  of 
their  respective  abilities,  but  against  macaws  which  can  be 
heard  a  mile,  their  best  efforts  seem  tame.  The  members  of 
the  Order  Psittaciformes  (as  above)  have  been  beautifully 
colored  by  Nature,  and  their  harsh  voices  seem  strangely 
out  of  harmony  with  their  plumage. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  133 

The  indoor  cages  along  the  western  side  of  the  Large 
Bird-House  (both  halls  included),  contain  an  extensive 
series  of  tropical  Pigeons  and  Doves,  which  are  well  worth 
some  attention. 

The  most  startling  exhibit  in  this  group  is  the  Bleeding- 
Heart  Pigeon,  (Phlogoenas  luzonica~),  from  the  Philippines, 
whose  creamy- white  breast  seems  to  have  been  recently 
stabbed  with  a  stiletto.  It  is  no  wonder  that  now  and  then 
a  sympathetic  visitor  seeks  the  Curator,  or  a  keeper,  and 
reports  that  a  bird  has  been  injured,  and  is  bleeding  from  a 
wound  in  its  breast. 

The  Flying  Cage  in  the  center  of  the  Main  Hall  contains; 
a  pool  of  running  water,  some  small  trees,  an  imitation  rock, 
and  the  floor  is  covered  with  a  comfortable  layer  of  sand. 
Hopping  or  flying  about,  and  perching  on  the  trees,  is  a 
really  remarkable  medley  of  birds.  There  is  the  Wood  Duck 
and  Mandarin  Duck,  Black  Skimmers,  Common  and  Sooty 
Terns,  several  species  of  Teal,  Curlews,  Gallinules,  Coots, 
Lapwings,  Snipe,  Ruffs,  Quail,  Francolins,  Senegal,  Turtle, 
Wonga-wonga  and  other  Pigeons  and  Doves,  Skylarks, 
Robins,  Orioles,  Cardinals,  Woodpeckers,  Java,  Fox,  Tree, 
and  other  Sparrows  and  Weavers.  Notwithstanding  the 
mixture  of  species,  they  all  live  together  in  the  utmost 
harmony,  and  beyond  all  question  they  greatly  enjoy  each 
other's  company. 

The  south  side  of  the  Main  Hall  is  devoted  to  miscella- 
neous rare  birds  from  the  tropics,  regardless  of  the  Orders  to 
which  they  belong.  The  largest  are  the  Great  Crowned 
Pigeons, — Victoria  and  Common, — the  oddest  are  the  Con- 
cave-Casqued  Hornbills  and  the  Toucans  (four  species). 
The  Rufous  Tinamou,  of  South  America,  is  a  species  which, 
through  lack  of  use  for  its  wings,  is  rapidly  losing  the 
power  of  flight.  The  Giant  Kingfisher  is  the  "Laughing 
Jackass"  of  Australia,  and  its  cry  is  strangely  like  the 
mirthless  horse-laugh  of  a  man  who  has  few  smiles  and 
seldom  uses  one.  The  Himalayan  Jay-Thrush  is  so  con- 
firmed a  murderer  of  birds  smaller  than  himself,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  quarter  that  species  with  other  birds  abundantly 
able  to  defend  themselves  against  its  attacks. 

On  the  northern  side  of  the  Main  Hall  there  will  be  found 
a  very  interesting  group  of  Cuban  birds,  another  of  birds  of 
the  Bahamas,  a  fair-sized  collection  of  Finches,  Weavers, 
Canaries,  Trogons,  and  other  small  species  of  foreign  lands. 

The  visitor  is  reminded  that  for  all  cages  that  contain 


134 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


TOCO    TOUCAN. 

more  than  one  species,  the  picture  labels  quickly  furnish  a 
key  for  identification  of  each. 

In  the  Glass  Court  and  around  it,  the  Curator  of  Birds, 
Mr.  C.  William  Beebe,  has  scored  a  gratifying  success  in 
the  installation  of  the  Order  Passeres.  The  birds  are  ar- 
ranged by  Families,  and  all  of  the  twenty-one  families  of 
eastern  North  American  perching  birds  are  represented. 
These  Families  are  as  follows :  Flycatchers,  Swallows,  Wrens, 
Mockingbirds  and  Catbirds,  Thrushes,  Kinglets,  Vireos, 
Waxwings,  Shrikes,  Chickadees,  Nuthatches,  Brown 
Creepers,  Warblers,  Pipits,  Horned  Larks,  Sparrows,  Honey 
Creepers,  Tanagers,  Blackbirds  and  Orioles,  English  Starling, 
Crows  and  Jays.  It  is  only  those  who  have  attempted  to 
form  and  install  such  a  collection  who  can  appreciate  the 
effort  which  that  collection  has  cost,  or  the  difficulties  in- 
volved in  the  maintenance  of  so  large  a  number  of  insect- 
eating  birds.  The  birds  in  this  section  of  the  Bird-House 
are  especially  interesting  to  the  teachers  and  pupils  of  the 
public  schools  of  this  city. 

The  large  circular  flying  cage,  at  the  outer  corner  of  the 
Glass  Court,  is  filled  with  Robins,  Bluebirds,  Thrushes  and 
Woodpeckers  which  wintered  there  very  comfortably,  be- 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  135 

cause  they  were  fed  and  watered,  and  sheltered  from  the 
worst  storms. 

Along  the  western  wall  of  the  Large  Bird-House,  outside, 
fourteen  large  cages  are  filled  with  members  of  the  Crow 
and  Blackbird  Families  (Corvidac  and  Icteridae),  such  as 
the  Ravens,  Crows,  Jays,  Magpies,  Blackbirds,  Meadow- 
larks,  Cowbirds  and  Crackles,  beside  which  appear  our  old 
friends  the  Yellow-Shafted  Flicker  and  Red-Headed  Wood- 
pecker. 

The  following  systematic  enumeration  of  the  Orders  of 
birds  represented  in  the  Zoological  Park  on  May  1,  1907,  and 
the  number  of  species  and  individuals  in  each,  will  show  the 
composition  and  scope  of  our  avian  collection  as  a  whole. 
The  number  of  genera  represented  is  304. 

LIST    OF    BIRDS    ON    HAND  MAY  1,  1907. 

ORDERS.  Species.     Specimens. 

Rheif ormes Rheas   1  2 

Struthioniformes Ostriches  2  3 

Casuariformes Emeus  and  Cassowaries.  2  4 

Tinamiformes Tinamou   2  5 

Galliformes Quail  and  Pheasants 59  182 

Columbiformes Pigeons  and  Doves 32  106 

Rallif ormes Coots  and  Gallinules 7  20 

Podicipedidiformes Grebes    1  1 

Lariformes Gulls    and   Terns 11  34 

Charadriformes Plovers  and  Sandpipers.  7  17 

Gruiformes Cranes,    Seriema 9  18 

Ardeiformes Ibises,    Storks   and   Her- 
ons      22  71 

Palamedeiformes Screamers    1  3 

Phoenicopteriformes Flamingoes    2  8 

Anseriformes Swans,  Geese  and  Ducks.  45  347 

Pelecaniformes Cormorants  and  Pelicans  9  25 

Cathartidiformes New  World  Vultures 5  12 

Accipitrif ormes Hawks  and  Eagles;   Old 

World   Vultures 20  35 

Strigiformes Owls    15  33 

Psittacif  ormes Parrots,      Macaws      and 

Cockatoos    46  107 

Coracif  ormes Kingfishers     and     Horn- 
bills    2  4 

Trogones Trogons    1  2 

Coccyges Cuckoos   2  3 

Scansores Toucans    5  21 

Piciformes Woodpeckers     3  3 

Passeriformes Thrushes,  Sparrows  and 

all  perching  birds 199  1150 

Totals    ..  ..510  2218 


136  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

WILD-FOWL  POND, 

Heretofore  Called  the  Aquatic  Mammals'  Pond. 

Although  the  birds  on  this  pond  are  chiefly  duplicates  of 
those  in  the  Duck  Aviary  (No.  3),  yet  the  interest  of  this 
exhibit  is  of  special  character,  and  greatly  enjoyed  by  hosts 
of  visitors.  This  is  the  nursery  of  the  ducks  and  geese, 
where,  in  the  tangle  of  long  grass,  briers  and  underbrush 
along  the  east  side  of  the  pond,  the  nests  are  built  in  early 
spring,  the  eggs  are  laid  and  patiently  incubated.  Finally 
the  broods  of  ducklings  are  led  to  the  water,  to  feed  to  reple- 
tion, throughout  the  summer,  on  the  worms,  bugs  and  in- 
sects so  dear  to  the  appetite  of  these  amusing  little  fellows. 
In  tiny  box  houses  erected  on  posts  above  the  water,  young 
wood  ducks  are  hatched,  scrambling  down  just  as  in  Nature 
they  make  their  escape  from  the  hollow  tree  which  the 
parents  select  for  a  nesting  place. 

When  the  mallard  ducklings  become  half  grown,  they 
learn  that  peanuts  and  bread  are  good  provender,  and  fear- 
lessly follow  visitors  about,  begging  for  crumbs. 

Cope  Lake  is  the  especial  province  of  the  nesting  pairs  of 
Canada  geese,  and  sometimes  as  many  as  eight  golden-col- 
ored goslings  are  hatched  in  one  nest  on  the  small  island. 


THE  PHEASANT  AVIARY,  AND  PIGEON  AVIARY, 
No.  40. 

This   Entire    Collection   is  the   Gift   of  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff. 

The  Pheasant  Aviary  is  a  building  like  a  corridor  240  feet 
long  with  a  cross  pavilion  at  each  end.  The  main  structure 
is  divided  into  22  shelters  connecting  with  a  like  number  of 
wire  enclosed  outside  runways,  each  of  which  is  8  feet  wide. 
24  feet  long  and  8  feet  high.  The  two  end  pavilions  furnish 
32  smaller  shelters  and  runways,  making  a  total  of  48  com- 
partments. The  shelters  are  divided  into  two  stories,  the 
upper  series  being  designed  for  pigeons,  doves  and  perch- 
ing birds  of  various  kinds.  Each  bird  in  this  aviary  can  at 
every  moment  of  his  life  choose  according  to  his  needs  from 
the  following  series  of  accommodations  that  are  available 
to  him:  An  open,  sunlit  yard,  a  storm  shelter  with  an  open 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  137 

front,  or  a  closed  room  with  one  small  door  and  a  large 
window. 

This  beautiful  and  generous  installation,  240  feet  long, 
with  48  runways,  accommodates  the  true  Pheasants  of  the 
world,  the  largest  group  of  birds  of  the  Pheasant  Family 
(Phasianidae) ,  which  in  turn  is  one  of  the  grand  divisions 
of  the  sportsman's  own  Order  Gallinae,  or  upland  game- 
birds.  Of  the  whole  Order  Gallinae, — which  includes  the 
Grouse,  Ptarmigan,  Partridges,  Pheasants,  Turkeys,  Guinea- 
Fowls,  Jungle  Fowl,  Quails,  Brush-Turkeys,  Curassows  and 
Guans — the  group  of  the  Pheasants  can  justly  claim  the  dis- 
tinction of  possessing  the  most  beautiful  birds.  Indeed,  I 
think  there  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  whole  avian  world  a 
group  of  game  birds  all  the  members  of  which,  taken  species 
by  species,  are  so  gorgeously  apparelled  as  these. 

In  this  brief  notice  of  what  is  really  one  of  the  finest 
pheasant  collections  in  the  world,  it  is  not  possible  to  do 
more  than  direct  the  visitors'  attention  to  its  chief  items  of 
interest.  It  must  be  stated  well  in  advance,  however,  that 
these  are  birds  of  very  shy  and  retiring  habit,  which  owe 
their  existence  as  species  to  the  success  with  which  they 
retreat  from  danger,  and  conceal  themselves  from  man  and 
beast.  These  birds  must  not  be  forced  to  spend  all  the  day- 
light hours  in  their  runways:  for  some  of  them  could  not 
long  survive  such  exposure  and  excitement.  To  preserve 
their  lives,  and  keep  them  in  health,  they  must  have  the 
privilege  of  retiring  into  their  shelters  whenever  they  de- 
sire. But  they  roam  in  and  out.  and  by  the  exercise  of  a 
little  effort  in  returning  to  them,  the  interested  visitor  will 
find  no  great  difficulty  in  seeing  all  the  species. 

There  are  few  species  of  pheasants  whose  members  are 
sufficiently  peace-loving  that  many  individuals  can  be  kept 
together  without  deadly  combats.  Of  most  species  save  the 
golden,  silver  and  ring-neck,  the  cocks  are  so  quarrelsome 
that  even  two  can  not  be  kept  together;  and  this  fact  con- 
stitutes a  handicap  upon  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  maintain 
the  full  strength  of  the  exhibition.  If  a  rare  and  quarrel- 
some male  pheasant  dies  unexpectedly,  it  is  not  always  pos- 
sible to  fill  the  vacancy  on  short  notice. 

Out  of  the  half-dozen  species  which  claim  first  place  in 
an  enumeration  based  on  beauty  and  luxuriance  of  plum- 
age— the  Amherst,  Reeve,  golden,  silver,  impeyan,  Argus 
or  Soemmerring — it  is  difficult  to  choose.  Each  has  its  share 
of  strong  points,  and  it  seems  as  if  there  is  no  "finest  of 
all."  Let  us  take  them  as  they  come  to  mind,  for  by  reason 


138  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


MAXCHCRIAN    EARED    PHEASANT. 

of  the  changes  so  often  necessary  in  the  runways,  it  is  in- 
expedient to  attempt  an  end-to-end  enumeration. 

The  Golden  Pheasant,  (Chrysolophus  pictus),  is  a  uni- 
versal favorite;  and  it  well  deserves  its  wide  popularity. 
Although  small,  it  is  as  beautiful  as  the  most  entrancing 
sunset  ever  seen.  It  is  very  alert  and  chic,  it  is  so  good 
tempered  that  we  can  have  the  rare  pleasure  of  seeing  a 
whole  flock  in  one  runway,  and  it  is  a  good  breeder.  To 
crown  all  these  fine  qualities,  it  is  so  hardy,  and  so  com- 
petent a  "rustler"  in  seeking  food  that  under  fair  con- 
ditions it  is  easily  transplanted  from  its  native  home  in 
western  and  southern  China.  It  has  been  introduced  and 
acclimatized  with  gratifying  success  in  Oregon,  Washington, 
southern  British  Columbia  near  the  Pacific  coast,  and  else- 
where. In  the  shooting  season,  the  shops  of  the  taxider- 
mists of  Vancouver  and  Portland  are  filled  with  these  gor- 
geous creatures,  which  appreciative  sportsmen  have  found 
"too  beautiful  to  eat."  One  might  as  well  try  to  describe 
a  sunset  as  to  pen  a  mental  picture  of  the  wonderful  com- 
bination of  golden  yellow,  orange,  lapis-lazuli  blue  and  deep 
crimson  that  appear  in  the  plumage  of  this  gorgeous  bird. 

The  Amherst  Pheasant,  (Chrysolophus  amherstiac],  is  the 
nearest  relative  of  the  golden  species,  and  also  a  strong  can- 
didate for  first  honors  on  the  score  of  beauty.  As  far  as 
you  can  see  the  cock  bird,  you  can  recognize  it  by  its  mar- 
vellous cape  of  pure  white  feathers  marked  with  semicircles 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


139 


GOLDEN  PHEASANT. 

of  black  and  steel-blue,  which  reaches  from  its  eyes  far  back 
upon  the  shoulders.  It  is  also  easily  recognized  by  its  enor- 
mously long  tail,  the  middle  feathers  of  which  are  conspicu- 
ously marked  by  a  regular  series  of  diagonal  bars  of  black 
laid  on  a  light  ground  color.  This  bird  is  of  small  size,  and 
fortunately  for  the  public,  it  breeds  in  confinement  with  suffi- 
cient readiness  that  a  good  supply  for  exhibition  purposes  is 
thereby  maintained. 

The  Silver  Pheasant,  (Gennaeas  nycthemerus] ,  of  China, 
is  Nature's  "running  mate"  for  the  golden  pheasant,  not 
only  in  the  rocky  hill  forests  of  southern  China,  but  in 
acclimatization,  in  captivity,  and  everywhere  else.  Wher- 
ever you  see  a  golden  pheasant,  look  for  the  Silver  also,  with 
its  showy,  snow-white  tail,  and  white  mantle  of  feathers 
which  covers  the  whole  upper  two-thirds  of  the  bird  from 
its  ears  to  its  tail.  Its  dark-colored  under  surface  serves  well 
to  accentuate  the  whiteness  of  its  other  parts.  It  is  a  larger 
bird  than  the  golden  and  Amherst  pheasants,  but  it  is  so 
good  tempered  that  every  summer  two  or  three  cock  birds 
are  kept  in  the  great  Flying  Cage  along  with  many  small 
and  defenseless  birds  which  might  easily  be  molested.  In 
parks  which  are  not  visited  by  great  numbers  of  people, 
both  this  species  and  the  golden  are  easily  domesticated,  and 
permitted  to  roam  at  will. 

The  Reeves  Pheasant,  (Syrmaticus  reeves},  of  northern 
China,  is  a  most  beautiful  species,  closely  related  to  the 


140  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

Japanese,  Elliott,  Hume  and  Soemmerring  pheasants, — all  of 
them  fine,  showy  birds.  Like  the  Amherst,  the  Reeves 
Pheasant  has  a  very  long  tail,  which  in  fully  adult  or  old 
male  birds  often  attains  a  length  of  five  feet.  When  you 
see  in  captivity  a  pheasant  with  an  enormously  long  tail, 
it  is  safe  to  assume  that  it  is  either  an  Amherst  or  a  Reeves. 

The  Soemmerring  Pheasant,  (Phasianus  soemmerringii}, 
sometimes  very  aptly  called  the  Copper  Pheasant,  is  a  native 
of  Japan,  and  a  bird  of  which  any  country  might  well  be 
proud.  In  size,  form  and  length  of  tail  it  matches  the  com- 
mon ring-necked  pheasant.  Its  head  and  neck  plumage  is 
of  a  warm  copper-bronze  tint,  but  its  most  beautiful  colors 
are  found  in  the  elaborate  cross-bar  markings  of  its  tail. 
The  pattern  of  the  latter  reveals  first  a  strong  cross-bar  of 
chocolate  brown,  above  that  a  broad  band  of  fawn-color, 
and  this  blends  into  a  mottling  of  black  on  cream-color, 
edged  across  with  black. 

The  True  Ring-Necked  Pheasant,  (P.  torquatus),  of  China, 
brings  to  view  a  question  that  frequently  is  asked  regarding 
the  English  Pheasant,  (P.  colchicus),  which  is  the  common 
species  of  southeastern  Europe  and  Asia  Minor,  and  of 
Great  Britain  and  other  continental  areas  by  introduction. 
We  are  asked,  "Has  the  English  Pheasant  a  white  ring 
around  its  neck,  or  not?" 

The  answer  is,  the  true,  pure-blooded  English,  or  Common 
Pheasant,  (P.  colchicus),  has  no  ring  around  its  neck;  but  so 
many  persons  have  crossed  the  true  Ring-Necked  Pheasant, 
of  China,  with  that  species  that  in  many  flocks  of  the  former 
species  the  majority  of  the  individuals  are  of  mixed  breed, 
with  necks  perceptibly  ringed,  yet  passing  as  English  Pheas- 
ants. As  a  matter  of  fact,  in  England  to-day,  pure-blooded 
English  Pheasants  are  rare.  Both  the  English  and  Ring- 
Necked  species  have  been  successfully  introduced  into  sev- 
eral portions  of  the  United  States. 

While  on  this  subject,  we  will  here  record  the  fact  that 
the  name  Mongolian  Pheasant,  as  often  applied  to  the  Ring- 
Neck,  is  a  misleading  error.  The  real  Mongolian  Pheasant, 
of  Turkestan,  (P.  mongolicus) ,  is  a  species  of  such  extreme 
rarity  that  it  is  almost  unknown,  alive,  in  the  United  States. 
In  the  interest  of  accuracy,  that  name  should  be  used  only 
with  extreme  caution. 

The  Argus  Pheasant,  (Argusianus  argus),  is  a  bird  with  a 
great  reputation  for  beauty,  but  as  seen  alive  in  zoological 
collections  it  does  not  always  come  up  to  expectations.  Both 
its  secondary  feathers — which  when  fully  developed  are  of 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  141 

enormous  length— and  its  primaries,  are  extremely  beauti- 
ful ;  but  unfortunately  those  beauties  are  not  visible  until 
the  bird  is  dead,  and  its  plumage  displayed  in  a  manner 
very  rarely  adopted  by  the  living,  captive  bird.  But  the 
eyes  on  the  huge  secondary  feathers  are  wonderful,  and  each 
primary  is  a  dream  in  eeru  and  brown  tints,  laid  on  in  a 
most  elaborate  pattern.  The  Argus  Pheasants  are  most  shy 
and  wide-awake  birds,  inhabiting  the  dense,  hot  and  moist 
jungles  of  Borneo,  Sumatra  and  the  Malay  Peninsula,  and 
are  almost  impossible  to  shoot.  They  are  snared  by  the 
Dyaks  and  Malays,  and  after  the  skin  has  been  removed  and 
carefully  preserved  for  museum  purposes,  the  flesh  is  as  fine 
mating  as  the  breast  of  a  quail.  A  few  successful  attempts 
have  been  made  to  breed  this  species  in  captivity. 

The  Impeyan  Pheasant,  (Lophophorns  impeyanus),  is  the 
neighbor  of  the  Himalayan  tahr,  the  burrhel,  the  ibex  and 
the  markhor,  and  the  delight  of  every  sportsman  who  dares 
the  rocks  of  "the  Roof  of  the  World"  in  quest  of  Himalayan 
big  game.  Its  beauty  is  due  chiefly  to  its  metallic  colors, 
and  the  splendid  iridescence  of  its  plumage.  Its  home  is 
in  the  world's  most  gigantic  mountains,  and  it  is  not  un- 
common for  a  bird  that  has  flown  out  from  a  mountain-side 
and  been  shot  on  the  wing  to  fall  2,000  feet,  and  beyond 
human  reach.  No  wonder  this  bird  is  the  "darling"  of  all 
Anglo-Indian  sportsmen. 

In  view  of  the  impossibility  of  specially  mentioning  each 
species  of  the  birds  quartered  in  the  Pheasant  Aviary,  we 
offer  a  list  of  the  most  important  now  on  exhibition  there, 
and  which  as  far  as  it  is  possible  will  be  maintained : 

LIST    OF    PHEASANTS    AND  ALLIED  BIRDS   IN   THE 
ZOOLOGICAL   PARK: 

Impeyan Lophophorus  irnpeyanus. . .  Himalayas. 

Satyra  Tragopan Tragopan  satyra Himalayas. 

Temminck   Tragopan.  .Tragopan  temmincki Central  China. 

Cabot  Tragopan Tragopan  caboti Southeast  China. 

Siamese  Fireback Diardigallus  diardi Siam,  C.  China. 

Manchurian  Eared. . . .  Crossoptilum  manchuricum Manchuria. 
Black-Crested  Nepal. .  .Gennaeus  leucomelanus . ..  .Nepal,  India. 

Black-Backed  Pheasant.G.  melanonotus East.  Himalayas. 

Anderson G.  andersoni Kachin  Hills. 

Lineated G.  lineatus Pegu. 

Silver G.  nycthemerus South  China. 

Swinhoe G.  swinhoei Formosa. 

English Phasianus  colchicus Southeast  Europe 

Ring-Necked P.  torquatus Eastern  Siberia. 

Versicolor P.  versicolor Japan  and  China. 


142  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

Soemmerring P.  soemmerringii Japan. 

Reeves Syrmaticus  reevesi China. 

Elliott Calophasis  eUioti Southeast  China. 

Golden Chrysolophus  pictus S.  and  W.  China. 

Amherst C.  amherstiae West  China. 

Red  Jungle  Fowl Gallus  gallus India  &  Malay  Pen. 

Peacock  Pheasant Polyplectrum  germaini Cochin  China. 

Vulturine  Guinea Acryllium  vulturinum East  Africa. 

Capercaille Tetrao  urogallus Europe. 

Black  Cock Lyrurus  tetrix Europe. 

Ruffed    Grouse Bonasa  umbellus East.  N.  America. 

European  Partridge. .  .Perdix perdix Europe. 

Banded  Curassow Crax  fasciolata North.  S.  America 

Globose   Curassow Crax  globicera Mexico. 

Razor-Billed  Curassow. Mitua  mitu North.  S.  America 

Crested   Guan Penelope  cristata Central  America. 

Northern  Chachalaca.  Ortalis  vetula  maccalli Texas  and  Mexico 

Red-Legged  Partridge.  Caccabis  chukar Europe  and  Asia. 

Wild  Guinea  Fowl. . .  .Uumida  meleagris West  Africa. 

Indian  Peacock Pavo  cristatus India  and  Ceylon. 

Java  Peacock Pavo  muticus Burmah  to  Java. 

Scaled   Quail .Callipepla  squamata Southwest  U.  S. 

Plumed  Quail Oreotyx  pictus  plulniferus.  .Sierra  Nev.  Mts. 

California  Quail Lophortyx  calif ornicus Pacific  Coast. 

Bob  White Colinus  virginianus Eastern  U.  S. 

Montezuma  Quail Cyrtonyx  montezumae Mexico. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  Pheasant  Aviary  is  a  double 
installation,  and  as  an  aviary  for  Pigeons  and  Doves  it  is 
quite  as  perfect  as  it  is  for  Pheasants. 


THE  OSTRICH  HOUSE,  No.  43. 

This  entire  collection  presented  by  Mr.  Charles  T.  Barney. 

Originally  it  was  our  intention  to  devote  this  fine  build- 
ing solely  to  the  great  "running  birds," — Ostriches,  Rheas, 
Emeus  and  Cassowaries ;  but  the  pressure  for  space  has  been 
so  great  that  this  intention  never  has  been  carried  into 
effect,  and  we  fear  it  never  will  be.  There  are  so  many 
cranes,  seriemas,  tropical  vultures  and  other  large  birds 
which  appeal  for  space  in  these  very  pleasant  and  health- 
ful quarters,  we  have  felt  compelled  to  set  our  original  plan 
half  at  naught.  It  seems  probable  that  some  of  the  feath- 
ered interlopers  now  in  the  Ostrich  House  will  remain  there, 
indefinitely— or  at  least  until  we  erect  a  Crane  Aviary. 

Architecturally,  the  Ostrich  House  is  the  counterpart  of 
the  Small-Mammal  House,  the  two  being  identical  in  size 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


143 


CERAM  CASSOWARY. 

and  form,  and  connected  by  a  handsome  pavilion.  Each 
building  is  170  feet  long,  and  54  feet  wide.  The  Ostrich 
House  contains  13  cages,  each  10x12  feet,  by  8  feet  in  height. 
A  flood  of  warm  light  pours  through  a  glass  roof  into  these 
cages,  and  makes  them  as  light  as  the  yards  without.  It  is 
no  wonder  that  birds  thrive  in  this  building.  Movable  par- 
titions were  provided,  so  that  a  few  of  the  cages  might  be 
subdivided  whenever  necessary.  This  provision  has  proven 
of  much  practical  value. 

Each  interior  cage  connects  with  a  spacious  outside  yard, 
in  which  the  big  birds  spend  the  warm  months.  The  yards 
are  enclosed  by  wire  fences,  and  to  the  eye  of  the  visitor 
they  are  open  from  three  directions. 


144  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

The  members  of  the  Subclass  Ratitae, — once  called  the 
Cursores,  or  the  "running  birds," — are  the  present-day 
giants  of  the  avian  world.  We  have  reason  to  be  glad  that 
all  these  splendid  birds  did  not  disappear  from  the  earth 
before  ornithology  took  form  as  a  science.  Undoubtedly, 
they  mark  the  end  of  the  line  of  birds  of  their  kind,  for  the 
far-reaching  destructiveness  of  civilized  man  has  already 
put  a  period  to  the  natural  evolution  of  animal  life.  To-day, 
the  preservers  of  wild  life  are  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand 
struggle  with  the  annihilators,  over  the  preservation  of  a 
remnant  for  those  who  come  after  us. 

The  African  Ostriches  are  now  very  prominently  in  the 
public  eye.  not  because  of  their  relationship  to  the  Dinornis 
and  Aepyornis  of  the  past,  but  by  reason  of  the  value  of 
their  plumes  in  enhancing  the  attractiveness  of  woman. 
And  surely,  no  plume-bearing  bird  ever  enlisted  in  a  better 
cause,  or  on  a  more  satisfactory  basis ;  for  tc-day  the  plume- 
crop  is  being  grown  and  plucked  and  marketed  with  almost 
as  much  certainty  as  the  annual  crop  of  wool.  In  the 
United  States,  the  most  important  plume-producing  ostrich 
farms  are  situated  in  southern  California  and  Arizona, 
where  the  industry  is  quite  successful.  So  valuable  are  the 
adult  birds  that  it  is  possible  to  purchase  specimens  im- 
ported from  Africa  for  less  money  than  would  be  necessary 
to  procure  them  in  the  United  States. 

A  full-grown  male  African  Ostrich  stands  8  feet  in  height, 
and  weighs  about  300  pounds.  Its  value  on  arrival  in  New 
York,  before  acclimatization  and  moulting  into  perfect  plu- 
mage, is  from  $200  to  $250.  The  female  lays  about  90  eggs 
in  a  year,  each  of  which  is  equal  to  about  20  hen's  eggs. 
The  time  of  incubation  is  about  40  days.  In  captivity  only 
about  60  per  cent  of  the  eggs  hatch,  and  of  those  not  more 
than  one-half  live  to  attain  full  maturity.  The  plumage  of 
immature  birds  and  adult  females  is  gray,  but  that  of  the 
adult  male  is  black  on  the  body,  and  white  on  the  wings  and 
tail. 

The  South  African  Ostrich,  (Struthio  ausiralis),  also  called 
the  Somali  Ostrich,  differs  from  the  species  found  in 
the  north.  The  color  of  the  naked  skin  of  its  neck  and 
thighs,  and  the  front  scales  on  its  metatarsus,  is  distinctly 
bluish,  and  dark.  This  is  the  species  of  the  southern  half  of 
Africa,  now  so  successfully  "farmed"  in  Cape  Colony  for 
its  feathers  that  the  annual  crop  is  said  to  yield  about 
$5,000,000.  And  it  is  this  species  which  is  kept  on  the  ostrich 
farms  of  California  and  Arizona. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  145 

The  North  African,  or  Sudan  Ostrich,  (S.  camelus),  is  the 
species  first  and  longest  known.  Its  neck,  thighs  and  front 
metatarsal  scales  are  of  a  decided  pink  color.  Originally 
the  range  of  this  species  extended  from  north  Africa  well 
into  southwestern  Asia,  embracing  Arabia,  Syria  and  Meso- 
potamia. 

Generally  speaking,  the  African  Ostriches  originally  cov- 
ered all  the  open,  sandy  plains  of  Africa;  but  they  never 
inhabited  the  regions  of  dense  forests.  To-day  their  total 
inhabited  range  is  small,  and  rapidly  becoming  more  so.  It 
is  highly  probable  that  within  the  life  period  of  many  per- 
sons now  living,  wild  Ostriches  will  totally  disappear  from 
the  earth. 

The  Common  Rhea,  or  South  American  Ostrich,  (Rhea 
americana},  represents  a  group  of  ostriches  much  smaller 
than  those  of  Africa,  and  found  only  on  the  open  plains  of 
Argentina  and  Patagonia,  below  the  great  equatorial  forest 
belt.  There  are  three  species  in  the  group.  In  general 
terms  it  may  be  stated  that  an  adult  Rhea  is  about  two- 
thirds  the  size  of  an  adult  African  ostrich.  It  is  with  great 
difficulty  that  these  birds  are  reared  to  maturity  in  the 
United  States. 

The  Common  Emeu,  (Dromaeus  novae-hollandiae} ,  of  Aus- 
tralia, is  the  neighbor  of  the  kangaroo  and  wallaby,  and  in 
form  is  as  odd  as  are  the  majority  of  the  birds  and  mammals 
of  that  continent  of  strange  creatures.  Its  body  suggests  a 
pile  of  gray-brown  hay  elevated  on  stilts,  to  one  end  of 
which  a  hay-covered  neck  and  head  have  been  attached.  The 
bird-lover  should  make  much  of  this  creature,  for  in  its 
home  country  it  has  been  almost  exterminated.  Fortu- 
nately, in  climates  reasonably  well  suited  to  it — but  not  in 
or  near  New  York — it  is  possible  to  breed  this  bird  in  cap- 
tivity. In  size  the  emeu  is  next  to  the  African  ostrich. 

The  Ceram  Cassowary,  (Casnarius  casuarius},  of  the 
Island  of  Ceram,  Malay  Archipelago,  represents  a  group 
which  contains  a  number  of  well-defined  species  which  are 
scattered  through  the  northern  cape  of  Australia,  New 
Guinea,  the  Aru  Islands,  Ceram,  and  other  islands  of  Malay- 
ana  east  of  Celebes.  They  are  all  distinguished  by  their 
glossy  purple  or  black  body  plumage — which  looks  far  more 
like  coarse  hair  than  like  feathers — their  huge  legs,  and 
their  helmeted  heads.  The  differences  between  species  are 
based  chiefly  upon  the  bright  orange  red  and  purple  colors 
of  their  upper  necks  and  wattles. 

In  size  the  Cassowaries  are  all  of  them  smaller  than  the 


146  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

emeus.  In  captivity  they  are  the  best  of  all  the  large  cursor- 
ial birds,  and  live  longer  than  either  ostriches,  rheas  or 
emeus.  They  are  essentially  birds  of  the  thick  forests  rather 
than  open  plains,  and  can  not  bear  the  glaring  light  and  heat 
of  midsummer  that  is  the  delight  of  an  ostrich.  In  captivity 
they  are  very  apt  to  be  quarrelsome  toward  each  other. 

Miscellaneous  Birds  in  the  Ostrich  House.— At  present 
these  are  so  numerous  and  so  important  it  is  necessary  to 
mention  a  few  of  them,  even  though  the  labels  may  be  sup- 
posed to  speak  for  them.  They  fall  into  several  groups, — 
chiefly  birds  of  prey  and  cranes. 

The  California  Condor,  (Gymnogyps  calif  ornianus),  is 
kept  here  in  winter,  but  in  summer  it  will  be  found  either 
in  the  Flying  Cage,  or  in  an  outdoor  cage  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  Aquatic  Bird  House,  (No.  5).  This  is 
by  far  the  rarest,  and  to  all  Americans  the  most  interesting, 
bird  of  prey  in  the  Park.  The  species  is  confined  to  a  very 
small  area  in  the  rugged  mountains  of  southern  and  lower 
California,  and  beyond  all  doubt,  the  skin-collecting  orni- 
thologists will  exterminate  it  within  the  next  twenty  years, 
or  less.  The  bird-lovers  love  it  so  much  that  in  the  presence 
of  opportunity  few  of  them  have  the  iron  resolution  to  let 
it  alone. 

The  King  Vulture,  (Gypagns  pa  pa},  is  as  its  proud  name 
implies,  the  one  member  of  the  Vulture  Family  which  really 
is  clad  in  royal  robes,  and  color-decked  to  match.  Its  range 
extends  from  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Trinidad  and 
Brazil.  The  visitor  should  not  fail  to  see  this  gorgeously 
caparisoned  body  of  white,  cream-yellow  and  black,  and 
head  of  orange,  purple  and  crimson.  Of  course  the  im- 
mature males  and  the  females  are  not  so  splendidly  colored 
as  the  adult  males.  Two  specimens  spend  their  winters  in 
the  Ostrich  House. 

The  Bateleur  Eagle,  of  Africa,  (Hclotarsus  ccaitdatns) ,  has 
narrowly  missed  the  distinction  of  being  the  most  beautiful 
of  all  birds  of  prey.  His  plumage  is  charmingly  colored 
but  he  is  out  of  proportion.  His  tail  is  so  absurdly  short 
that  his  wings  quite  conceal  it,  and  make  him  appear  as  if 
altogether  tailless.  His  really  fine  hood  and  massive  body 
plumage  give  the  bird  a  very  odd,  top-heavy  appearance. 

Both  winter  and  summer,  the  Ostrich  House  will  contain, 
either  indoors  or  in  a  yard  outside,  this  remarkable  bird: 

The  Brush  Turkey,  or  Telegalla,  (Cathctunis  lathami),  is  a 
bird  of  the  dark  tropical  forests  of  New  Guinea  and  Aus- 
tralia. For  many  years  it  has  been  regarded  as  a  zoological 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  147 

wonder,  because  of  the  remarkable  manner  in  which  it  nests 
and  produces  its  young.  Instead  of  building  a  small,  hol- 
low nest,  and  hatching  its  eggs  by  the  heat  of  its  own  body, 
it  pursues  the  plan  of  the  crocodile !  Choosing  an  open  spot 
in  the  forest  it  builds  a  huge  mound,  and  as  the  structure 
rises,  it  lays  its  eggs  in  the  heart  of  it.  Turning  its  tail  to 
the  mound-site,  this  absurd  little  bird — no  larger  than  a 
barnyard  hen — scratches  about  right  and  left,  gathers  a  big 
footful  of  small  dead  sticks,  grass  and  dirt,  and  fiercely 
fiings  it  backward  upon  the  pile.  A  Brush  Turkey  in  good 
working  order  can  fling  a  bunch  of  jungle  debris  fully  ten 
feet.  Usually  the  finished  mound  is  about  three  feet  high 
by  ten  feet  in  diameter  on  the  ground,  and  contains  two  or 
three  cart-loads  of  sticks,  leaves  and  grass.  The  eggs  are 
deposited  in  a  circle,  well  separated  from  each  other,  and 
each  newly  hatched  bird  must  scratch  out  or  die.  Of  course, 
the  eggs  are  incubated  by  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  the  fer- 
mentation of  the  mass. 


THE  CRANES. 

At  present  the  Cranes  of  the  Zoological  Park  are  divided 
between  the  Ostrich  House  and  the  Aquatic  Bird  House,  and 
their  environs.  In  summer  there  are  exhibits  of  these  birds 
in  the  outdoor  yards  adjacent  to  each  of  those  buildings. 
Until  the  Crane  Aviary  is  erected,  we  must  crave  some  in- 
dulgence in  respect  to  the  locations  of  these  very  interesting 
birds. 

The  Whooping  Crane,  (Grus  americana),  is  the  largest,  the 
handsomest  and  the  rarest  crane  species  in  America.  Its 
great  size  and  its  pure-white  plumage — except  its  primar- 
ies— render  it  conspicuous  from  afar,  and  its  voice  will  carry 
half  a  mile.  The  elevated  tail  coverts  and  caudal  feathers 
of  the  adult  male  give  the  bird  a  very  jaunty  appearance. 
This  species  is  so  rare  that  thus  far  we  have  been  able  in 
eight  years  to  secure  only  three  specimens.  The  Whooping 
Crane  nests  in  summer  in  the  Arctic  regions,  but  in  winter 
it  ranges  as  far  south  as  Mexico.  Our  specimens  of  this  bird 
will  in  summer  be  found  in  the  large  paddock  immediately 
north  of  the  Aquatic  Bird  House,  with  the  next  species. 

The  Sandhill  Crane,  (Grus  mc.vicana),  is  smaller  than  the 
preceding  species,  more  common,  and  is  frequently  seen  in 
captivity.  Its  color  is  slaty-blue.  It  is  found  in  the  south- 


148 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


CROWNED  CRANE. 


PARADISE  CRANE. 


eastern  United  States,  but  once  was  fairly  common  through- 
out the  Mississippi  valley.  In  captivity  this  bird  often  in- 
dulges in  some  very  droll  antics — at  times  actually  dancing. 
The  adult  males  are  often  quite  pugnacious,  and  inclined  to 
attack  those  who  go  near  them,  and  all  visitors  are  warned 
not  to  go  within  striking  distance  of  them.  Children  espe- 
cially should  not  be  permitted  to  climb  over  the  guard  wires, 
and  approach  close  up  to  the  cranes'  fences. 

The  Sarus  Crane,  of  the  plains  and  sand-bars  of  northern 
India,  (Antigone  antigone),  greatly  resembles  our  sandhill 
crane,  but  is  a  much  larger  bird.  This  also  is  a  quarrelsome 
species,  and  in  captivity  individuals  are  inclined  to  be  cruel 
toward  each  other. 

The  Asiatic  White  Crane,  (Sarcogeranus  leucogeranus),  is 
like  a  modest  understudy  to  our  whooping  crane,  in  all 
respects  save  the  elevated  tail-crest.  It  is  a  bird  of  wide 
distribution. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


149 


WHOOPING    CRANE. 

The  Paradise  Crane,  (Tetrapteryx  paradisea),  of  the  open 
plains  of  Africa  outside  the  deserts,  is  a  slaty-blue  bird  with 
a  head  so  puffed  out  with  side  feathers  that  it  looks  almost 
reptilian.  Its  tail-feathers  taper  out  to  infinity,  and  grace- 
fully droop  quite  to  the  ground.  The  little  African  De- 
moiselle Crane,  (Anthropoides  virgo),  is  so  diminutive,  so 
dainty  in  appearance  and  so  gentle-spirited  that  its  young- 
ladylikeness  has  been  proclaimed  in  its  name.  Of  all 
foreign  species  of  cranes,  it  is  the  one  easiest  to  procure, 
and  the  most  satisfactory  to  keep  in  collections.  It  never 
quarrels,  it  is  very  sociable  in  its  habits,  and  thrives  in 
captivity. 

The  Crowned  Crane,  (Balearica  pavonina},  also  of  Africa, 
is,  perhaps,  the  most  beautiful  of  all  living  cranes.  It  is  of 
medium  size,  royally  colored,  and  strikingly  set  off  with  a 
conspicuous  crown  of  stiff,  quill-like  feathers  that  stand  as 
erect  and  regular  as  the  aigret  of  an  Indian  prince, 


SECTION  III.— THE  REPTILES  AND  AMPHIBIANS. 


THE  REPTILE  HOUSE,  No.  34. 


The  Reptile  House  was  the  first  large  building  erected  in 
the  Zoological  Park.  It  represents  an  earnest  effort  to  pre- 
sent carefully  selected  examples  of  the  reptilian  Orders,  in  a 
manner  which  may  afford  the  visitor  and  the  student  a  gen- 
eral view  of  the  important  groups  of  living  reptiles. 

The  length  of  the  Reptile  House,  over  all,  is  146  feet,  and 
its  greatest  width  is  100  feet.  It  is  constructed  of  buff  mot- 
tled brick,  combined  with  granite  and  Indiana  limestone. 
In  the  ornamental  cornice  of  terra  cotta,  reptilian  forms 
modelled  by  Mr.  A.  Phimster  Proctor,  the  well-known  ani- 
mal sculptor,  constitute  an  import-ant  feature.  The  build- 
ing is  roofed  with  slate,  heated  by  hot  water,  and  cost,  with 
its  cages,  about  $50,000.  It  is  beautifully  situated  on  the 
edge  of  a  forest  of  primeval  oaks,  very  near  the  geograph- 
ical center  of  the  Park. 

The  great  center  hall  is  unbroken  by  a  single  column,  and 
at  one  end  it  opens  across  the  Crocodile  Pool  and-  its  sand- 
banks, through  three  huge  arches,  into  the  green,  jungly 
mass  of  the  conservatory.  Of  the  tropical  vegetation 
massed  behind  the  pool — palmettoes,  bayonet  cacti,  yuccas, 
and  the  like,  and  the  tillandsias,  Spanish  moss,  resurrection 
ferns,  and  butterfly  orchids, — nearly  the  whole  came  from 
Florida,  along  with  five  alligators  which  were  the  first 
occupants  of  the  pool. 

In  effect,  the  central  hall  appears  to  be  115  feet  in  length, 
by  40  feet  wide,  exclusive  of  the  cages.  But,  large  as  this 
building  is,  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  fill  all  its  avail- 
able space  with  the  reptiles  of  North  America  alone,  choos- 
ing only  the  handsome  and  showy  forms.  As  we  contem- 
plate the  great  number  of  species  in  our  own  reptilian 
fauna,  the  thought  occurs,  what  can  we  do  with  the  rep- 
tiles of  the  Old  World  f  Manifestly,  the  only  proper  course 
is  to  choose  from  the  reptiles  of  the  world  the  forms  which 
will  make  for  visitors  and  students  the  most  instructive  and 
attractive  series  of  important  types. 

151 


152 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


SYNOPSIS   OF  THE   CLASS   REPTILIA. 


At  this  date,  May  1,  1907,  all  these  examples  are  on  exhibition 
in  the  Reptile  House: 


ORDERS. 

/  TURTLES,  or 
Chelonia. 

CONSPICUOUS  EXAMPLES 

Alligator  Turtle... 
Snapping  Turtle.  .  . 
Box  Tortoise  
Giant  Tortoise  
Gopher  Tortoise  .  .  . 
Painted  Turtle  
Soft-shelled  Turtle. 
Green  Turtle 

LOCALITY. 

Louisiana. 
Zoological  Park. 
Zoological  Park. 
Galapagos  Island. 
Florida. 
New  York. 
Indiana. 
New  York. 

SAURIANS,  or 
Crocodilia. 
03 

3 
B 

r  Alligator  
Florida  Crocodile   . 
Cuban  Crocodile.  .  . 

Iguana  (I.  turber- 
culata)  
Green  Lizard  (L. 
viridis)   

Florida. 
Southern  Florida. 
Cuba. 

West  Indies. 
Europe. 

H           LIZARDS,  or 

Chameleon  

Africa. 

Lacertilia. 

Monitor  

Ceylon. 

I                 I 

£> 

Gila  Monster  
Horned  "Toad".... 
"Glass  Snake"  

Arizona. 
Arizona. 
Florida. 

J 

SERPENTS,  or 
Ophidia. 

Regal  Python  
Anaconda  
Black  Snake  (B. 
constrictor)  
Garter  Snake  
Hog-Nosed  Snake  .  . 
Coral  Snake 

Malay  Peninsula.    ^ 
British  Guiana. 

Zoological  Park. 
Zoological  Park. 
Zoological  Park.     ) 
Florida. 

Cobra  de-Capello.  .  . 
Diamond  -  Backed 
Rattlesnake  
Water  Moccasin.  .  . 

India. 

Florida. 
Florida.                   ^ 

THE  TURTLES  AND  TORTOISES. 

The  Order  of  Turtles,  (Chelonia),  is  so  large  that  it  has 
been  found  necessary  to  devote  to  its  representatives  the 
whole  central  space  of  the  main  hall  of  the  Reptile  House, 
and  also  a  specially  designed  Tortoise  House  of  glass  in  the 
eastern  end  of  the  building.  In  the  main  hall  are  two  feat- 
ures— one,  a  large  square  tank  for  marine  turtles ;  the  other, 
a  pool  of  running  water  between  banks  of  earth,  sand,  and 
living  plants.  This  tank  is  35  feet  in  length,  and  by  means 
of  low,  plate-glass  partition!  it  is  divided  into  ten  cross  sec- 
tions, each  of  which  can  very  comfortably  provide  for  the 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  153 

wants  of  at  least  three  species  of  turtles  of  medium  size. 
With  a  wonderfully  rich  Chelonian  fauna  on  the  western 
continent  to  provide  for,  there  is  little  room  to  spare  for 
Old  World  forms,  and  the  temptation  to  make  this  col- 
lection strictly  Occidental,  is  almost  too  great  to  be  resisted 
For  the  sake  of  brevity  and  clearness,  only  six  types  have 
been  chosen  for  special  mention. 

The  following  species  taken  together  fairly  represent  the 
different  forms  of  Chelonians,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest: 

The  Alligator  Turtle,  (Macrochelys  lacertina),  is  the  larg- 
est fresh-water  chelonian  in  North  America.  In  form  and 
temper  it  resembles  the  common  snapping  turtle  of  the 
North,  and  its  home  is  in  the  Gulf  States.  The  largest  of 
the  two  Louisiana  specimens  on  exhibition  weighs  115 
pounds. 

The  Snapping  Turtle,  (Chelydra  serpentina),  which  is  the 
most  courageous  and  pugnacious  of  all  turtles,  is  rather 
poorly  protected  by  its  shell,  and  must  therefore  fight  for  its 
place  in  nature. 

The  Painted  Turtle,  (Chrysemys  picta],  is  a  species  of 
wide  and  common  distribution,  and  fairly  representative  of 
the  host  of  fresh  water  terrapins  and  turtles  so  common 
throughout  the  United  States  in  ponds  and  streams  of  all 
sorts. 

The  Soft-Shelled  Turtle,  (Aspidonectes  ferox) — As  to  liv- 
ing relatives,  this  strange  genus  seems  apropos  of  nothing. 
Like  some  of  the  marine  turtles  its  shell  is  greatly  reduced 
in  weight,  so  that  it  can  float  more  readily ;  instead  of  being 
solid  bone,  it  terminates  in  a  wide,  thin  edge  of  cartilage, 
which  is  so  soft  that  when  properly  boiled  it  constitutes 
palatable  food. 

The  Marine  Turtles.— At  the  New  York  Aquarium,  sit- 
uated in  Battery  Park,  and  managed  by  the  New  York 
Zoological  Society,  will  be  found  a  fine  collection  of  such 
large  sea-turtles  as  the  Loggerhead,  Green  Turtle  and 
Hawksbill,  which  require  salt  water. 

The  Tortoise  and  Lizard  Yards.— At  the  eastern  end  of  the 
Reptile  House  is  a  commodious  glass-roofed  hall,  opening 
into  a  series  of  sandy  yards.  This  installation  is  occupied 
by  the  collection  of  tortoises  and  the  larger  tropical  lizards. 
These  reptiles  do  better  in  captivity,  and  show  to  best  ad- 
vantage, if  given  outdoor  sunlight  and  plenty  of  room  for 
exercise. 

The  Giant  Tortoises  are  among  the  most  interesting  of 


NEW   YORK   ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  155 

living  reptiles.  There  are  fourteen  distinct  species,  all  be- 
longing to  the  genus  Tcstudo.  These  creatures  appear  to  be 
survivors  of  the  reptilian  ages  when  reptiles  attained  colossal 
proportions.  Fossil  remains  of  the  great  tortoises  show 
these  creatures  to  have  formerly  inhabited  the  continents, 
but  the  survivors  are  restricted  to  isolated  groups  of  small 
islands  in  the  Pacific  and  Indian  Oceans.  Six  species  inhabit 
the  Galapagos  Islands  in  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Four  are  found 
in  the  Aldabra  Islands  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  four  in- 
habit the  Mauritius-Rodriguez  group  of  Islands.  All  the 
species  are  rapidly  becoming  extinct.  Recent  expeditions 
to  the  Galapagos  Islands  have  reported  that  very  few  Giant 
Tortoises  now  survive  in  those  islands. 

The  Giant  Tortoises  are  entirely  herbivorous.  The  speci- 
mens exhibited  consume  great  quantities  of  green  food, 
which  varies  in  kind  according  to  the  season's  supply.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  months  they  feed  largely  upon  melons. 

Among  the  species  exhibited  is  Tcstudo  vicina,  repre- 
sented by  our  largest  specimen,  captured  in  the  Galapagos 
Islands.  It  weighs  slightly  over  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  pounds.  Another  example  from  the  same  islands  repre- 
sents Testudo  nigrita,  a  smaller  and  natter  species.  Tcstudo 
clephantina,  the  Elephant  Tortoise,  is  represented  by  a  large 
specimen  from  the  Aldabra  Islands,  which  is  growing 
rapidly.  The  latter  tortoise  has  a  very  high  shell,  and  pro- 
portionately small  head. 

The  Gopher  Tortoises,  (Tcstudo  Carolina},  are  large,  thick- 
shelled,  clumsy  creatures,  which  burrow  in  holes  in  the 
sandy  southern  regions  where  they  live.  Once  they  were 
common  in  southern  Florida,  but  their  edibility  has  resulted 
in  a  great  decrease  in  their  abundance. 

The  South  American  Tortoise,  (Tcstudo  tabulata),  is  a 
good  representative  of  the  smaller  tortoises  from  various 
parts  of  the  world.  It  is  common  throughout  tropical 
South  America  and  attains  a  maximum  length  of  shell  of 
about  14  inches.  The  shell  is  elongated  and  blackish,  each 
of  the  shields  having  a  yellowish  center.  Like  all  of  the 
tortoises,  this  is  a  herbivorous  reptile. 

The  Box  Tortoise,  (Cistudo  Carolina],  lives  on  land,  and  as 
a  means  of  perfect  protection  has  been  enabled  by  nature 
completely  to  withdraw  its  head  and  legs  within  its  shell, 
and  by  means  of  a  hinge  across  the  middle  of  the  plastron, 
or  lower  shell,  to  close  it  tightly. 


156  POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


THE  CROCODILES  AND  ALLIGATORS. 


The  Order  of  Crocodiles.— This  important  Order-,  the 
•members  of  which  are  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
tropics  and  sub-tropics  of  the  world,  contains  nineteen 
species.  At  this  point  it  is  well  to  correct  certain  very 
general  misapprehensions  regarding  crocodilians. 

Crocodiles  are  not  confined  to  the  Old  World ;  at  least 
three  species  being  found  abundantly  in  tropical  America. 

The  "movement"  of  a  crocodile's  jaw  differs  in  no  man- 
ner whatever  from  that  of  an  alligator. 

Only  a  few  species  of  crocodiles  are  dangerous  to  man. 

There  is  no  authentic  record  of  the  loss  of  a  human  life 
through  our  common  alligator. 

The  Alligator  genus  embraces  the  American  Alligator, 
(A.  mississippiensis),  of  the  southern  United  States  and  a 
small  species  found  in  China!  The  head  of  the  Alligator  is 
very  flat  and  its  sides  are  nearly  parallel,  while  the  head  of 
a  typical  crocodile  is  nearly  triangular. 

The  American  Alligator  is  well  represented  in  the  Pool  in 
the  Reptile  House,  by  several  lusty  specimens,  all  of  which 
eat  voraciously,  are  growing  rapidly,  and  undoubtedly  en- 
joying life.  The  largest  specimen,  a  burly  monster  over 
twelve  feet  in  length,  has  grown  nearly  five  feet  in  length 
since  its  arrival  here  in  1899. 

In  summer,  the  Alligator  Pool  on  the  hill,  southeast  of  the 
Reptile  House,  is  well  stocked  with  alligators  of  various 
sizes,  and  it  is  there  that  visitors  can  secure  most  realistic 
impressions  of  the  appearance  of  this  species  in  a  state  of 
nature,  and  in  abundant  number. 

Under  favorable  conditions. — warm  water  and  air,  good 
light,  plenty  of  room,  and  abundant  food, — the  Alligator 
grows  rapidly.  A  specimen  hatched  in  our  Reptile  House 
in  October,  1900,  was  in  March,  1907,  6  feet  2  inches  long, 
and  weighed  75  pounds. 

The  Crocodile  genus  is  widely  represented  throughout  the 
world.  Of  the  whole  eleven  species,  the  American  con- 
tinent contains  four — the  Florida  Crocodile,  (Crocodilus 
acutus  floridanus),  attaining  a  length  of  14  feet,  which  was 
discovered  at  the  head  of  Biscayne  Bay,  in  1875,  by  W.  T. 
Hornad  ay;  the  American  Crocodile  (C.  acittus) ;  the  sharp- 
nosed  Orinoco  Crocodile  (Crocodilus  intermedium),  found  in 


NEW   YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 


157 


FLORIDA  CROCODILE. 

South  America;  and  the  small  Crocodilus  rhombifer,  which 
is  found  only  in  Cuba  and  the  West  Indies. 

Of  the  seven  remaining  species,  Asia  contains  four,  and 
Africa  three.  Of  the  Asiatic  species,  one  frequents  salt 
water. 

The  Florida  Crocodile  is  now  represented  by  two  speci- 
mens nearly  9  feet  long,  from  Madina  Creek,  southern  Flor- 
ida, presented  by  Mr.  Julian  A.  Dimock.  It  is  to  be  recog- 
nized at  a  glance  by  its  dark  olive  color  and  sharp-pointed 
head.  This  is  the  only  species  of  crocodile  found  in  the 
United  States.  Its  maximum  length  is  14  feet  2  inches. 

The  Cuban  Crocodile  is  represented  by  two  specimens 
presented  by  Capt.  A.  G.  Hammond,  Eighth  U.  S.  Cavalry. 
This  is  a  small  species,  and  is  believed  not  to  exceed  8  feet 
in  length.  It  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  Florida  croco- 
dile, but  is  specifically  quite  distinct. 


THE  LIZARDS. 

The   Tropical  Lizards.— Several  families  of  lizards  are 
represented   among  the   specimens   occupying   the   Reptile 


158  POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

House,  the  Tortoise  room  and  outside  runways.  Among 
these  are  the  Tegus,  Monitors  and  Iguanas. 

The  Tegus,  (genus  Tupinambis),  are  powerful  lizards, 
growing  to  a  length  of  four  feet,  and  inhabiting  tropical 
South  America.  They  are  fleet  of  foot,  mainly  carnivorous 
and  very  quarrelsome.  It  is  impossible  to  keep  any  but  the 
larger  lizards  in  the  yard  with  them.  Tegus  are  fond  of 
eggs,  breaking  the  shell  at  one  end  and  lapping  up  the  con- 
tents by  means  of  the  very  broad,  forked  tongue.  They  will 
also  eat  raw  beef. 

The  Australian  Monitor,  (Varanus  gouldii},  is  a  good  rep- 
resentative of  a  genus  of  large  and  powerful  lizards  con- 
fined to  the  Old  World,  where  they  occur  in  India,  Malaysia, 
Africa  and  Australia.  Monitors  grow  to  a  length  of  eight 
feet.  They  are  swift  runners,  entirely  carnivorous,  and 
usually  dwell  in  thick  jungles.  They  are  able  to  swallow 
entire  an  animal  as  large  as  a  half-grown  rabbit.  All  are 
fond  of  eggs,  swallowing  them  without  breaking  the  shell, 
which  is  soon  dissolved  by  the  powerful  gastric  juices. 

Among  the  Iguanas  are  several  large  and  interesting  liz- 
ards. The  largest  of  these  is  the  Rhinoceros  Iguana,  (Cy- 
clura  cormtta),  found  in  Hayti.  Contrary  to  the  general 
belief,  but  like  all  the  Iguanas,  it  is  partly  carnivorous, 
though  it  feeds  largely  upon  vegetables  and  fruit.  This 
species  receives  its  name  from  the  presence  of  three  well- 
defined  horns  upon  the  snout. 

The  very  popular  Horned  "Toad,"  (Phrynosoma) ,  of  the 
southwestern  states,  of  which  there  are  eight  or  nine  species, 
should  be  mentioned  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  place 
it  where  it  belongs — with  the  lizards,  and  not  with  the 
toads. 

The  Mexican  Iguana,  (Ctenosaura  acanthura),  looks 
unique  in  the  possession  of  rings  of  sharp  spines  about  the 
tail.  Most  specimens  are  jet  black  when  adult,  but  very 
young  examples  are  pale  green. 

The  South  American  Iguana,  (Iguana  tuberculata} ,  may  be 
readily  distinguished  by  the  very  pronounced  fringe  of 
erect  spines  which  rise  along  the  back-bone  of  male  speci- 
mens, and  also  by  the  presence  of  a  rounded  tubercle  or 
Elate  on  each  side  of  the  head.  This  is  a  brightly  colored 
guana,  having  bars  of  green,  gray  and  black.  It  is  strictly 
arboreal,  and  evinces  stronger  herbivorous  habits  than  spe- 
cies of  the  allied  genera.  A  large  male  specimen  is  seven 
feet  long,  but  much  of  this  length  is  taken  up  by  the  grad- 
ually tapering  tail.  In  South  America — on  the  Orinoco,  at 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  159 

least — this  species  is  considered  edible,  and  the  writer  can 
testify  that  to  a  hungry  man  its  flesh  is  excellent. 

Other  Lizards. — Within  the  main  halls  of  the  Reptile 
House  will  be  found  various  representatives  of  the  smaller 
Lizards,  a  few  of  which  may  be  mentioned. 

The  Common  Iguana,  (Iguana  tubercHlata),  is  a  large  and 
showy  tree-climbing  species  from  the  West  Indies,  where  it 
eats  soft  fruits,  and  in  turn  is  eaten  by  the  natives. 

The  beautiful,  emerald-colored  Green  Lizard,  (Lacerta 
I'iridis),  of  Europe,  is  not  only  a  handsome  species,  but  it  is 
also  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  to  keep  in  a  vivarium — a 
good  feeder  and  always  posing.  The  Chameleon  of  the  Old 
World,  (Chamaeleo  vulgaris),  because  of  its  color  phases  and 
its  remarkable  form,  is  truly  a  great  "curiosity";  but  it 
should  not  be  confused  with  our  so-called  American  Cha- 
meleon, which  belongs  to  another  Family,  and  is  also  less  in- 
teresting. 

Our  well-known  Gila  Monster,  (pronounced  He-la}  (Helo- 
derma  suspectum},\s  a  stupid,  slow-moving  creature  from  the 
southwestern  deserts,  thick-set  and  stumpy  in  body,  and  it 
has  the  appearance  of  being  covered  all  over  with  dark- 
brown,  black,  and  yellow  beads,  such  as  Indians  use  in  their 
bead  industry.  Its  bite  is  sufficiently  venomous  that  it  in- 
flicts a  painful  wound,  but  it  is  not  necessarily  fatal. 

The  famous  Glass  Snake,  (Ophiosauris  ventralis),  is  im- 
portant because  its  resemblance  to  a  snake  is  so  perfect 
it  is  generally  mistaken  for  one,  although  a  true  lizard. 

THE  SERPENTS. 

The  Order  of  Serpents,  (Ophidia}.—The  large  glazed 
cases  along  the  northern  side  of  the  main  hall  of  the  Reptile 
House  are  devoted  to  the  larger  serpents,  while  the  smaller 
species  are  provided  for  along  the  south  wall,  and  in  the 
adjoining  room.  One  serious  difficulty  in  the  management  of 
a  collection  of  living  serpents  lies  in  the  fact  that  often  the 
most  valuable  specimens  are  so  nervous  and  shy  in  their 
feeding  habits  it  is  impossible  to  cage  several  together. 

Out  of  the  many  species  of  serpents  exhibited  in  the  Rep- 
tile House,  ten  are  chosen  as  fairly  representing  the  prin- 
cipal groups. 

The  Black  Snake,  (Bascanium  constrictor],  a  common  spe- 
cies in  the  eastern  United  States,  is  probably  the  highest 
type  of  the  harmless  snakes.  It  is  a  serpent  of  great  vigor 
and  activity  in  running,  climbing,  and  swimming;  it  pos- 


160 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


FEB-DE-LANCE. 

sesses  great  courage,  and  seeks  prey  of  many  kinds  in  all 
kinds  of  situations. 

The  Regal  Python,  (Python  reticulatus),  here  represented 
by  a  fine  specimen,  22  feet  in  length,  weighing  170  pounds, 
is  the  best  representative  of  the  rock  pythons  of  Asia  and 
Africa.  The  island  of  Borneo  is  its  center  of  distribution. 
None  of  the  constrictors  is  venomous,  but  their  crushing 
power  is  almost  beyond  belief. 

The  Rock  Python,  (Python  sebae),  of  Africa,  is  a  light- 
colored  species  with  a  very  small  head,  and  is  frequently 
seen  in  the  hands  and  around  the  necks  of  snake-charmers. 

The  Anaconda,  (Eunectes  murinus],  is  one  of  the  largest 
constrictors  of  tropical  America,  and  is  noted  for  its  aquatic 
habits.  It  is  a  handsome  serpent,  being  of  a  rich  green 
color,  marked  with  large  black  spots. 

The  Garter  Snake,  (Eutaenia  sirtalis),  is  more  frequently 
seen  in  the  eastern  United  States  than  any  other  serpent. 
Although  the  warfare  waged  against  it  is  perpetual,  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  it  is  as  harmless  as  a  fly,  its  numbers  do 
not  sensibly  dimmish. 

The  Hog-Nosed  Snake,  "Puff  Adder,"  or  "Sand- Viper," 
(Heterodon  platyrhinus] ,  represents  a  large  and  important 
Family,  and,  despite  its  dangerous  appearance  and  terrify- 
ing names,  it  is  quite  harmless.  It  represents  one  of  Na- 
ture's methods  for  protecting  harmless  and  inactive  crea- 
tures, by  making  them  resemble  others  which  are  dangerous, 


NEW   YORK   ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  161 


COPPERHEAD   SNAKE. 

Venomous  Reptiles.— Because  of  the  number  of  species 
of  rattlesnakes  which  have  found  lodgment  in  the  United 
States,  and  the  trouble  they  have  caused  in  a  few  localities, 
we  are  specially  interested  in  all  serpents  which  are  danger- 
ous to  man.  The  species  named  below  represent  the  deadly 
genera  which  civilized  man  has  most  cause  to  fear. 

The  Diamond-Back  Rattlesnake,  (Crotalus  adamant  eus),  is 
too  handsome,  too  showy,  and  too  large  to  be  chosen  as  the 
best  average  type  of  the  genus  Crotalus;  but  he  is  king  of 
his  kind,  and  cannot  be  ignored.  Three  species  shown  side 
by  side  in  our  Reptile  House  afford  striking  examples  of 
protective  coloration.  The  Diamond-Back  Rattler  of  Florida 
and  the  South  is  yellow,  brown,  and  black,  to  match  the 
checkers  of  sunbeam  and  shadow  that  fall  upon  the  sands 
under  the  palmetto  leaves. 

The  most  vicious  snake  in  North  America,  and  one  of 
the  ugliest  in  appearance,  is  the  Water  Moccasin,  (Ancis- 
trodon  piscivorus), —  closely  related  to  the  beautiful  Copper- 
head, (A.  contortrir}.  It  is  more  dreaded  in  the  South  than 
the  rattler,  because  it  strikes  on  the  slightest  provocation, 
and  without  the  rattler's  timely  warning.  Its  colors  are 
dull,  its  scales  rough,  its  body  ill-shaped  and  clumsy,  its 
temper  is  vicious,  and  for  every  reason  it  is  a  serpent  to  be 
disliked. 


162 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 


COBRA-DE-CA  PELLO. 

The  Harlequin  Snake,  or  Coral  Snake,  (Elaps  fulvius), 
represents  a  genus  which  contains  many  species,  though  but 
few  of  them  occur  in  America. 

The  King  Cobra,  (Naja  bungaris),  from  the  Malay  Penin- 
sula, often  called  Snake-Eating  Cobra,  is  the  most  dangerous 
of  all  serpents,  because  it  is  the  largest  and  the  most  ath- 
letic of  the  venomous  species,  and  for  its  bite  there  is  no 
effective  antidote.  It  feeds  only  on  living  snakes.  The  fine 
specimen  exhibited  is  about  ten  feet  in  length,  and  has 
thriven  ever  since  its  arrival  in  1899. 

The  Cobra-de-Capello,  (Naja  tripudians),  of  which  some 
fine  specimens  are  shown,  is  the  terror  of  India,  where  it 
kills  between  18,000  and  20,000  people  per  annum!  This 


NEW   YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


163 


TRANSFORMATION    OP   THE   FROO. 


is  the  most  deadly  of  all  serpents.  For  its  bite,  science  has 
thus  far  been  powerless  to  find  an  antidote,  although  Dr. 
Albert  Calmette,  of  Lille,  France,  experimenting  extensively 
in  this  direction,  has  secured  partially  successful  results. 


THE  BATRACHIANS,  OR  AMPHIBIANS. 


Among  the  many  wonders  of  Nature,  none  is  more  in- 
teresting than  those  forms  which  serve  to  connect  the  great 
groups  of  vertebrate  animals,  by  bridging  over  what  other- 
wise would  seem  like  impassable  chasms.  For  a  high  ex- 
ample, consider  the  duckbill,  or  platypus,  an  Australian 
mammal  about  the  size  of  the  muskrat,  which  stands  almost 
half  Way  between  the  mammals  and  birds.  It  lays  eggs, 
and  has  a  bill  and  webbed  front  feet,  like  a  duck. 

Between  the  birds  and  the  reptiles  there  is  a  fossil  bird, 
called  the  Archaeopteryx,  with  a  long,  vertebrated,  lizard- 
like  tail,  which  is  covered  with  feathers,  and  the  Hesperornis> 


164  POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

a  water  bird  with  teeth,  but  no  wings,  which  inhabited  the 
shores  of  the  great  western  lake  which  has  already  yielded 
to  American  paleontologists  a  great  number  of  most  remark- 
able fossil  forms. 

Between  the  reptiles  and  the  fishes,  stretches  a  wonderful 
chain  of  living  links  by  which  those  two  Classes  of  verte- 
brates are  so  closely  and  unbrokenly  united,  and  by  such 
an  array  of  forms,  that  they  constitute  an  independent  Class, 
the  Batrachia,  or  Amphibia.  In  the  transition  from  water 
to  land,  from  fins  and  gills  to  legs  and  lungs.  Nature  has 
made  some  strange  combinations.  In  some  instances  the 
fins,  legs,  lungs  and  gills  have  become  so  mixed  that  several 
notable  misfits  have  resulted,  and  in  some  cases  we  see  gills 
and  legs  going  together,  while  in  others  lungs  and  fins  are 
associated. 

The  Reptile  House  contains  ten  species  of  Batrachians, 
and  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  this  number  will  be  main- 
tained and  increased.  They  are  to  be  found  in  small  aqua- 
rium cases,  ranged  along  the  south  side  and  eastern  end  of 
the  Main  Hall. 

The  Bullfrog,  (Rana  catesbiana},  is  a  fair  representative 
of  the  Batrachians  which  stand  nearest  to  the  true  land- 
going  reptiles.  During  the  early  stages  of  its  existence  it  is 
in  turn,  a  fin-tailed  tadpole  with  no  legs,  a  short-tailed  tad- 
pole with  a  pair  of  front  legs,  a  shorter-tailed  tadpole  with 
four  legs,  and  finally  a  fully-developed,  land-going  frog, 
with  a  voice  like  a  small  bull,  and  no  tail  whatever.  Of  the 
genus  Rana,  there  are  five  species  in  the  eastern  United 
States,  several  of  which  inhabit  the  Zoological  Park. 

The  Wood  Frog,  (Rana  sylvatica),  is  frequently  seen  in 
moist  valleys  in  the  Zoological  Park,  where  its  chocolate 
brown  back  so  closely  matches  the  color  of  the  dead  leaves 
and  moist  earth;  it  is  difficult  to  find,  save  when  it  takes  one 
of  its  flying  leaps.  The  specimens  shown  were  taken  near 
the  Beaver  Pond. 

The  Tree  Frog,  (Hyla  pickeringi),  is  the  commonest  of 
the  queer  little  tree-loving  species  which  are  so  easy  to  hear, 
and  so  difficult  to  find.  In  spring  their  voices  are  the  first 
to  be  heard  in  the  swamps.  The  Zoological  Park  is  full  of 
Hylas,  and  their  cheerful  piping  is  heard  at  all  seasons, 
especially  in  dry  midsummer,  when  dark  storm-clouds 
gather  and  promise  rain. 

The  Common  Toad,  (Bnfo  lentiginosus),  is  found  in  the 
Zoological  Park,  though  not  in  such  abundance  as  the  two 
preceding  species. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  165 

The  Spotted  Salamander,  (Salamandra  macnlosa],  because 
of  its  broad,  bright  yellow  bands  and  blotches,  laid  on  a 
rich,  dark-brown  body  color,  is  one  of  the  most  showy  of  all 
Batrachians.  It  comes  from  Europe,  and  being  much  prized 
in  collections,  it  frequently  passes  through  the  hands  of 
dealers  in  reptiles.  Its  skin  is  very  moist  and  clammy, 
which  gives  the  creature  the  appearance  of  having  been 
varnished.  This  is  the  creature  which  is  supposed  to  be 
able  to  withstand  fire— a  belief  which  is  purely  imaginative. 

The  Tiger  Salamander,  (Amblystoma  tigrinum),  and  the 
Axolotl,  (A.  mexicana],  are  widely  different  creatures  from 
the  preceding.  Of  the  genus  to  which  they  belong,  the 
former  is  by  far  the  most  widely  distributed  species.  It  is 
found  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent,  and  as  far  south  as  Central  Mexico.  Thir- 
teen other  species  of  the  genus  Amblystoma  are  found  in 
North  America  and  Mexico.  In  the  matter  of  "harmoniz- 
ing with  environment,"  the  Amblystoma  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  creatures  in  existence.  In  its  "larval"  stage 
(corresponding  with  the  tadpole  stage  of  a  frog),  this  ani- 
mal possesses  external  gills,  red  and  sponge-like  in  appear- 
ance, and  its  tail  has  a  fin-like  edge  above  and  below,  like 
the  tail  of  an  eel. 

So  long  as  this  larval  creature  remains  in  water,  its  ex- 
ternal gills  remain  and  do  duty,  and  the  larval  stage  con- 
tinues indefinitely.  Remove  it  from  water,  or  let  its  home 
pool  dry  up,  and,  presto !  its  gills  dry  up,  its  tail  loses  its 
fin-like  edges,  and  the  creature  goes  about  on  land,  breath- 
ing air  instead  of  water,  with  lungs  instead  of  gills.  The 
Spotted  Salamanders  exhibited  were  captured  in  the  Zoolog- 
ical Park. 

The  "Water-Dog,"  or  "Hellbender,"  (Cryptobranchus 
allegheniensis],  is  a  salamander-like  amphibian,  from  18  to  22 
inches  long-  when  adult,  found  more  frequently  in  Penn- 
sylvania than  elsewhere.  They  are  said  to  be  very  tena- 
cious of  life,  and  voracious  in  their  food  habits,  feeding  on 
worms,  minnows  and  crayfish,  and  often  taking  the  hook  of 
the  fisherman  in  quest  of  that  most  repulsive  of  nil  Amer- 
ican fishes,  the  cat-fish.  Between  cat-fish  and  water-dog 
there  would  seem  to  be  small  choice.  Mr.  William  Frear 
offers  this  testimony  in  regard  to  the  tenacity  of  life  of  this 
creature : 

"One  specimen,  about  18  inches  in  length,  which  had  lain 
on  the  ground  exposed  to  a  summer  sun  for  48  hours,  was 
brought  to  the  museum,  and  left  lying  a  day  longer  before 


166  POPULAR   OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

it  was  placed  in  alcohol.  The  day  following,  desiring  to 
note  a  few  points  of  structure,  I  removed  it  from  the  alcohol 
in  which  it  had  been  completely  submerged  for  at  least 
20  hours,  and  had  no  sooner  placed  it  on  the  table  than  it 
began  to  open  its  big  mouth,  vigorously  sway  its  tail  to  and 
fro,  and  give  other  undoubted  signs  of  vitality." 

The  Congo  Snake,  or  Amphiuma,  (Amphiuma  means'),  is 
a  creature  which  closely  resembles  a  thick-tailed  snake. 
A  close  examination,  however,  discloses  a  tiny  pair  of  front 
legs;  and  far  back,  well  toward  the  end  of  the  tail,  a  small 
pair  of  hind  legs  appear.  These  are  about  as  valuable  to 
the  animal  as  the  tiger's  clavicle  is  to  him.  There  are  but 
two  species  belonging  to  this  strange  genus,  both  of  which 
are  found  in  the  stagnant  waters  of  our  southeastern  states. 
Still  lower  than  the  amphiuma,  is  The  Mud  Eel,  (Siren  laccr- 
tina),  of  the  southeastern  quarter  of  the  United  States, 
which  possesses  small  external  gills,  and  only  one  pair  of 
legs,  which  are  in  front. 

The  Menobranchus,  or  Mud  Puppy,  (Necturus  macula  tils']. 
possesses  external  gills  and  four  legs,  and  inhabits  many  of 
the  rivers  of  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Indiana,  and  also  the 
Great  Lakes  and  northern  New  York.  It  is  often  taken  ir 
fishermen's  nets. 


Access,  means  of,  4 

Bear,  hairy-eared.  10ft 

Addas  naso-maculatus,   28 

Himalayan  black,  109 

Admission,  4 

Isabella,   109 

Agouti,    the,    94 

Japanese   black,    1  1  1 

Aix  galericulata,  117 

Malay  sun,  92,  111 

sponsa,    117 

peninsula,   107 

Alligator,  American,  150 

polar,   105 

Alpaca  42 

silver-tip  grizzly,    107 

Amblystoma  tigrinum.  165 

sloth.  111 

Amphiuma  means,  166 

Syrian,  109 

Amphibians,   163 

Yakutat,  106 

Anaconda,    160 

Bears,  list  of,  111 

Anas  boschas,  117 

North  American,  105 

Ancistrodon  contortri.T,  161 

Beaver,   American,  94,   113. 

piscivorus,  161 

Binturong,   90 

Anser  albifrons,  119 

Birds,  115 

anser,  119 

American  perching,  134 

Ant-eater,    great,    96. 

list  of,   135 

Antelope,    addax,    28 

tropical,   133 

American  prong-horned,  37 

Bison,    American,    15 

Baker's   horse,   29 

americanus,  15 

Baker's  roan,   29 

European,  17 

beatrix,   28 

numbers  of,  15-18 

beisa,   28 

Black-buck,  33 

duiker,  common,  34 

Blastoceros  campestris,  31 

four-horned,  34 

paludosus,  31 

leucoryx,  28 

Blessbok,   29 

sable,  28 

Bos  banasus,   17 

sabre,  28 

primigenius,   18 

sasin,    33 

Bradypus   tridactytus.  99 

small   African,  33 

Branta  canadensis,  118 

Anthropoides  virgo,  149 

Brocket,  black-faced,  31 

Anthropopithecus  calvus,  65 

Bubo  virginianus,  128 

Antidorcas  euchore,  34. 
Antigone  antigone,  148 

Bufo  lentiginosus,  164 
Bullfrog,    164 

Antilocapra  americana,  37 

Burrhel,  21 

Antilocapridae,  39 

Butea  lorealis,   128 

Antilope  cervicapra,  33 
Antlers,  formation  of,  44 

Camel,  bactrian,  40 
single-humped,    41 

Aoudad,    21 

Camelus  bactrianus,  40 

"Ape,"   Barbary,   67 

dromedarius,  41 

black,  67 

Canis  azarae,  91 

Aplodontidae,  101 

dingo,  92 

Ara  ararauna,  132 

jabatus,  92 

macao,  132 

latrans,  82 

Arctictis  binturong,  90 

nubilis,  81 

Ardea  americana,  124 

Capybara,  94 

herodias,  122 

Caribou,  woodland,  46 

Argusianus  argus,  140 
Armadillo,  nine-banded,  93 

Cassowary,  Ceram.   145 
Castor  canadensis,  94 

six-banded,  95 

Casuarius  casuarius,  145 

three-banded,  96 

Cat,  civet,   89 

Aspidonectes   ferox,   153 

jungle,  88 

Ass,  Persian  wild,  50 

Malayan  civet,  89 

Aurochs,  18 

margay    89 

Aviary,  pheasant  and  pigeon,  136 

wild,   89-100 

Axis  axis,  51 
Axolotl,  165 

yaguarundl,  89 
Catharista  «ruba,  128 

Aythya  americana,  118 
valUsnerla,  118 
Baboon,  golden,  67 
hamadryas,   67 

Catheturua  lathami,  146 
Cephalophus  grlmmi,  34 
Cervicapra,  34 
Cervidae,  50 

long-armed  67 

Cervus  canadensis  asiaticus,  53 

Badger,  American,  92 

duvauceli,  53 

European,  92 

eldl,  52 

Balearica  pavonina,  149 

elaphus,  54 

Bascanium  constrictor,  159 

equinus,  53 

Batrachians,   163 

maral,  54 

Bear,  Admiralty,  107 

moluccensis,  32 

black,   108 

muntjac,  32 

brown,   109 

porcinus,  32 

cat,  90 
grizzly,  107 

»ika  typicm,  32-53 
unicofor.  82-53 

167 

168 


INDEX. 


Chamois,  19-22 
Cheetah,  the,  59 
Chelonia,  152 
Chelydra  serpenlina,  153 
Chen  hyperborca,  120 
Chenopsis  atrata,  120 
Chevrotain,  Malay,  33 
Chimpanzee,  65 
Cholocpus  hoffmani,  09 
Clirysemys  picta,  153 
Chrysolophus  amherstiae,  138 

pictus,  138 
Ctconia  ciconia,  122 
Cistudo  Carolina,  155 
Coati-mundi,  red,  92 

white-nosed,  92 
Cobus  unctuosus,  29 
Cockatoos,   132 

Collections,  arrangement  of,  7 
Condor.  California,   14(5 
Connochaetcs  albojubatus,  27 

gnu,  26 

taurinus,  27 
Corvidae,  135 
Coscoroba  coscoroba,  120 
Coyote,  82 
Crane,  Asiatic  white,  148 

crowned,   149 

demoiselle,  149 

paradise,  149 

sandhill,   147 

sarus,    148 

whooping,  147 
Crocodile,    American,    156 

Cuban,   157 

Florida,  156 

Orinoco,    156 
Crocodilus  acutus,  156 

floridanus,  156 

intermedius,  156 

rhombifcr,  157 
Crotalus  adamanteus,  161 
Cryptobranchus  allegheniensis,  165 
Ctenosatira  acanthura,  158 
Cyclura  cornuta,  158 
Cygnus  buccinator,  120 

olor,  120 

Cynaclurus  jubatus,  59 
Cynomys  ludovicianus,  102 
Dafila  acuta,  117 
Da  ma  vulgar  is,  52 
Damaliscus  albifrons,  29 
Dasyprocta,  94. 
Dasypus  sexcinctus,  95 
Deer,  Asiatic,  50 

axis,   51 

barasinga,  53 

brow-antler,  52 

Burmese,    52 

Columbian  black-tailed,  45 

Eld's,    52 

European,   50 

European    Red,    54 

fallow,   52 

fan-tailed,    46 

flag-tailed,  46 

hog,   32 

horse-tailed,    53 

Indian   sambar,  53 

Japanese  sika,  51 

Malay   sambar,   53 

maral,    54 

marsh,  31 

Molucca,  32 


Deer,  mouse,  33 

mule,  45 

muntjac,  32 
musk.   33 

North    American,    42 

Osceola's  white-tailed    ?,1 

Pekin  sika,  51 

rib-faced,  32 

Sinaloa,  white-tailed,  31 
swamp,  53 

Virginia,  45-46 

white-tailed,  45 
Dens,    bear,    103 

fox,  83 

wolf,  80 
Dingo,  92 
Dog,  Australian  wild,  92 

Azara,    91 

hyaena,   90 

raccoon,  92 

Dromacus  novae-hollandiae,  145 
Dromedary,  40-41 
Duck,  canvas-back,  118 

mallard,  117 

mandarin,  117 

pin-tail.    117 

red-head.    118 

wood.   117 
Eagle,  bald,  127 

bateleur,    146 
Edentata,  94 
Egret,  American,  125 
Egretta  candidissima,  124 
Eland,  20 
Elaps  fulvius,  162 
Elephant,  German  E.  African,  76 

Indian,  73 

South  African,  76 

Sudan  African,    75 

West    African.    76 
Elephas  capensis,  76 

cyclotis,  76 

indicus,  75 

knochenhaucri,  76 

oxyotis,  75 
Elk,  American,  43 
Emeu,  common.  145 
Equus,   burcheUi  chapmani,  49 

burchelli  granti,  49 

hemionus,  50 

onager,  50 

pcrsicus,   50 

prjevalskii,  48 
Ercthizon  dorsatus,  94 
Eunectes  murinus,  160 
Eulabia  indica,  119 
Eutaenia  sirtaiis,  160 
Felis  bengalensis,  88 

concoJor,  59 

nebulosa,  88 

onca,  58 

pardalis,  88 

pardus,   58 

sercal,  88 

tigrina,  89 

uncia.  59 

yaguarondi,  89 
Flamingo.    American,   121 

European,    121 
Florida  caerulea,  124 
Flying   Cage,    120 

small,   126 
Fox,  Arctic,  01 

black,  83 


INDEX. 


ion 


Fox,  cross,  83 

Hydranassa  tri-calor  ruflcoliis,  1  24 

gray,   84 

l/ydroehaerus  capi/bara,  94 

kit.   84 
red    83 

Hi/la  pickeringi,  164 

silver,    83 

lonyicauda,  94 

Frog,    tree,    164 

Ibis,  scarlet,  122 

wood,   164 

white-faced  glossy,  122 

GalUnae,  137 

wood,    122 

Gazclla  l>cnnetl,  35 

Ichneumon,  African,  90 

dorcas,   35 

Ictcridae.  135 

Gazelle,  dorcas,  35 

Iguana,    common,    159 

Indian,   35 

Mexican,    158 

Geese,  118 

rhinoceros,   158 

Gennaeas  nycthcmerux,  139 

South  American,   158 

Gibbon,    the,    66 

Indrl,   72 

Gila  monster,   159 

Jaguar,   the,   58 

Giraffa  camelopardalis,  24 

Kangaroo,   red,  36 

capensis,  24 

Kiang,   50 

reticulata,  24 

Lacerta  viridis,  159 

Giraffe,  five-horned,  24 

Lama  glama,   41 

Nubian,  24 

guanacus,  42 

Somali,   24 

pacos,  42 

two-horned,    24 

vicunia,  42 

Gnu,  blue,  27 

Lemur,  black  and  white,  72 

brindled,    27 

ring-tailed,  72 

white-bearded,  27 

ruffed,    72 

white-tailed,   26 

Leopard,   black,   39 

Goat.  Persian  wild,  19 

clouded,   88 

Rocky  'Mountain,   19-36 

hunting,  59 

Goose,   African   spur-winged,    119 
bar-headed,   119 

snow,    59 
Leporidae,  101 

Canada,    118 

Lion,   mountain,   60 

gray-lag,  119 

the,   56 

white-fronted,  119 

Lizard,   green,    159 

Gorilla  savayei,  65 

Llama,  41 

Grounds,  physical  aspect  of,  9 
Grus  americana,  147 

Lophophorus  impeyanus,  141 
Lutra    canadensis,   85 

mexicana,  147 

Lycaon  pictus,  90 

Guanaco,  42 

Lynx,   bay,   89-100 

Gymnogyps  californianus,  146 

Canada,  99 

Gypagus  papa,  146 

canadensis,  99 

Haliactus  leucocephalus,  127 
Hawk,  red-tailed    128 

red,  89-100 
rufus,  89-100 

"Hellbender,"   165 

rufus  maculatus,  89 

Heloderma  suspectum,   159 

spotted,    89 

Helotarsus  ecaudatus,  146 

Macaque,  bonneted,  08 

Hemitragus  jemlaicus,  21 

Macaw,  blue-and-yellow,  132 

Heron,   black-crowned   night,    124 

great    green,    132 

great  blue,   122 

red-and-blue,   132 

great    white,    124 

Macrochelys   lacertina,   153 

little  blue.  124 

Macropus  ruftts,  36 

Louisiana,    124 

Magot,  67 

snowy,    124 

Mammals,   14 

Herpestes  ichneumon,  90 

burrowing,  100 

Heterodon  platyrhinus,  160 

egg-laying,  99 

Hippopotamus  amphibius,  79 

miscellaneous,   35 

Ilippotragus  equinus   Itakeri,  29 
niger,  28 
Horns,  formation  of,  44 

toothless,  94 
Mangabey,  sooty,  69 
white-collared,    69 

Horses,  Prjevalsky,  48 
House,  antelope,  23 

Markhor,  Suleiman,  19 
Marmoset,  70 

aquatic  bird,   125 

plnche,  70 

camel,   40 

Marmot,    102 

elephant,   73 

Masama  tcma,  31 

large-bird,   130 

Meerkat,   slender-tailed,  90 

lion,  54 

Meleagris  gallopavo 

llama,  41 

si/Jvestrts,  130 

ostrich,   142 

Meles   taxus,  92 

primate,  63 

Monitor,  Australian.  158 

puma  and  lynx,  98 

Monkey,  black  spider,  69 

reptile,  151 

entellus,  69 

•mall-deer,  30 

gray  spider,  69 

small  mammal,  87 

green,  69 

iebra,  47 

howling,  09 

170 


INDEX. 


Monkey,  Japanese  red-faced,  67 

mona,  69 

patas,  — 

pig-tailed,  68 

red,  69 

rhesus,  68 

squirrel,  70 

vervet,   69 
Monkeys,    New   World,   69 

Old  World,   67 
Monotremata,  99 
Moschus  moschiferus,  33 
Mouflon,   19-21 
Motntain  beaver,  101 

sheep-hill,  18 
Mud   eel,    166 


puppy,   166 
Musk-Ox,   19 


Myopotamus  coypu.  85 
Myrmccophaga  jubuta,  96 
Naja  bungaris,  162 

tripudians,  162 
Nasua  narica,  92 

rufa,  92 

Necturus  maculatus,  166 
Nettion  carolinensis,  117 
Nilgai,  29 

Nyctea  nyctea,   128 
Nyctereutes  procyonoidcs,  92 
Nycticorax  nycticorax,   124 
Ocelot,  88 
Ochotonidae,  101 
Odocoileus,  31 
columbianus.  45 
hemionus,  45 
sinaloae,  31 
virginianus,  45 
virginianus  osceola,  31 
wiegmanni,  31 
Onager,  50 
Ophidia,  159 

Ophiosaurus  ventraUs,  159 
Orang  utan,  65 
Oreatnnos   montanus,   36 
Oryx  Beatrix,  28 
leisa,  28 
leucoryx,  28 
Ostrich,  African,  144 
Somali,   144 
South  African,   144 
South    American,    145 
Sudan,   145 
Otter,  American,  85 

pools,  85 
Otus  aceo,  129 
Ounce,  59 

Ovibos  moschatus,  19 
Ovis  lurrhel,  21 
canadenais,  20 
cyclocerot,  21 
musimon,  21 
tragelaphua,  21 
Owl.  barred,   128 

Florida  burrowing,  129 
great  horned,  128 
screech,  129 
snowy,    128 
Paradoxure,  black,   90 
Malayan,  90 
white-whiskered,  90 
paradoxurus  hermaphroditus, 
leucomystax,  90 
niacr    90 

Parrot,'  Cuban,  132 


Passcres,  134 
'elecanus  erythrorhynchos,  125 

occidentalis,  125 
'elican,  brown,   125 

white,  125 

'hlogoenas  luzonica,  133 
^hasianidae,   137 
^hasianus  colchicus,  140 
mongolicus,  140 
soemmerringii,  140 
torguatus,  140 
Pheasant,  Amherst,    138 
Argus,    140 
copper,   140 
English,    140 
golden,   138 
impeyan,   140 
Reeve,  139 
ring-necked,  140 
silver,    139 
Soemmerring,   140 
heasants,  list  of,  141 
Phoca  vitulina,  63 
Phoenicopterus  roseus,  121 

ruber,  121 

Pigeon,   bleeding-heart,    133 
Plectropterus  gambensis,  119 
Porcupine,   African,   93 
Canada,  94 
Indian  crestless,  94 
Portax  tragocamelus,  29 
Prairie  dog,  western,   102 
Primates,    classification   of,   64 
Puma,  60 
Python,  regal,  160 
reticulatus,  160 
rock,   160 
sebae,  160 

Querquedula  discors,  117 
Raccoon  tree,   112 
Rana  catesbiana,  164 

sylvatica,  164 
Range,   buffalo,   15 
Rangifer  caribou,  46 
granti,  47 
osborni,  47 
sionei,  47 
tarandus,  41 
Rat,  coypu,  85 

Rattlesnake,  diamond-backed,  161 
Reedbuck,  34 
Reindeer,  Lapland,  47 
Reptiles  and  amphibians,  151 
Reptiles,  venomous,  161 

Reptilla,  "synopsis  of,  152 
Restaurant,  Rocking-stone,  7 
Rhea  americana,  145 

common,  145 
Rhinoceros.  African 
two-horned.  77 
bicornis,  76 
Indian,  78 
unicornis,  78 
Rocking  stone,  13 
Rupicapra  tragus,  22 
Saki,   69 
Salamander,   spotted,  165 

tiger,   165 

Salamandra  maculosa,  165 
Sapajou,   69 

Sarcogreranus   leucogeranus,  1411 
Seal,  harbor,  61 
Sea-lions,  60 


INDEX. 


171 


Sea-lions,   barking,   61 

California,  61 

characteristics  of,  61 
Serpents,  159 
Serval,   88 
Service  building,  7 
Sewellel,    101 
Sheep,  arcal,  19-21 

Barbary  wild,   21 

big-horn,  20 

blue  mountain,  21 

mountain,  18 

Sardinian  wild,  21 
Siren  laccrtina,  166 
Sloth,   three-toed,   99 

two-toed,  99 
Small  deer,  31 
Snake,  black,  159 

Congo,    166 

copperhead,  161 

coral,   162 

garter,   160 

glass,   159 

harlequin,    162 

hog-nosed,  160 
Speotyto  cunicularia 

floridana,  129 
Springbuck.    34 
Squirrels,  list  of,  93 
Stork,    white,    122 
Struthio  australis,  144 

camclus,  145 
Suricata  tetradactyla,  90 
Suricate,  90 
Swan,  black,   120 

Coscoroba,    120 

mute,   120 

trumpeter,   120 
Swift,  large-eared,  84 
Syrmaticus   reevesi,   139 
Syrnium  varium,  128 
Tahr,   Himalayan,  19-21 
Tamandua,  97 

tetradactyla,  97 
Tapir,   Malay,   80 

South  American,  80 
Tapirus  indicus,  80 

terrestris,  80 
Tatu  noremcinctum,  95 
Taurotragus  oryx,  26 
Taxidea  americana,  92 
Teal,   blue-winged,   117 

green-winged,  117 
Tegu,   158 
Tcstudo  Carolina,  155 

elephantina,  155 

nigrita,  155 

tabulata,  155 

vicina,  155 

Tetraceros  quadricornis,  34 
Tetrapteryx  paradisca,  149 
Thylacine,  84 

Thylacinus  cynooephalus,  84 
Tiger,  the.  57 
Toad,   common,   164 

horned,  158 


Tolypeutes  tricinctus   96 
Tortoise  box,   155 

elephant,   155 

giant,    153 

gopher,  155 

South  American,    155 
Tortoises  and  lizards.    153 
Tragulus  javanicus,  33 
Turkey,  brush,   146 

wild,  130 
Turtle,  alligator,  153 

painted,   153 

snapping,    153 

soft-shelled,    153 

marine,    153 

Ungulates,  summary  of,  14 
Urocyon  virginianus,  84 
Ursus   americanus,    108 

arctos,   109 

dalli,  106 

eulophus,  107 

norribiUs,  107 

malayanus,  92-111 

maritimus,   105 

merriami,    107 

middendorffi,   107 

piscator,  109 

syriacus,   109 

torquatus,  109 
Vet-anus  gouldii,  158 
Vicunia,  42 
Viverra  malaccensis    89 

zibetha,  89 
Vulpes  fulvus,  83 

fulvus  argentatus,  83 

fulvus  decussatus,  83 

lagopus,  91 

macrotis,  84 

macrotis  neomcxicanus    90 

velox,  84 
Vulture,    black,   128 

king,   146 
Wapiti,  43 

Altai,  53 

tashkent,  53 

Waterbuck,  Sing-Sing    29 
"Water-Dog,"    165 
Wichita  Forest  and  Game 

Reserve,   17 
Wild-fowl  pond,   136 
Wolf,  black,  81 

gray,    81 

maned,  92 

prairie,  81 

Tasmanian,  83 

white,   81 
Yarkee,  69 

Zalophus  californianus,  61 
Zebra,  Chapman's,  49 

Grant's,    49 
Zoological  Park,  location,  2 

means   of   access,  4 

origin,    1 

privileges,   2 

sources   of  income,   1 

statistics  of,  x 


tn  %  Zonioijirai 


Membership  in  the  Zoological  Society  is  open  to  all  persons  interested 
in  the  objects  of  the  organization  who  desire  to  contribute  toward  its 
support  and  are  endorsed  by  two  members  in  good  standing.  In  order 
to  carry  out  all  its  plans  the  Society  desires  to  increase  its  membership 
to  a  total  of  3,000. 

The  cost  of  annual  membership  is  $10  per  year,  which  entitles  the 
holder  to  admission  to  the  Zoological  Park  and  the  Aquarium  on  all  pay 
days,  when  he  may  see  the  collections  to  better  advantage  than  on  other 
days.  Members  are  entitled  to  the  Annual  Report  and  all  Bulletins, 
admission  to  all  lectures  and  special  exhibitions,  and  ten  complimentary 
tickets  to  the  Zoological  Park  and  Aquarium,  for  distribution.  The  an- 
nual membership  fee  is  payable  on  May  1st  of  each  year,  in  advance. 

Any  Annual  Member  may  become  a  Life  Member  by  the  payment  of 
$200.  Any  one  who  subscribes  $1,000  becomes  a  patron;  if  $2,500,  he 
becomes  ah  Associate  Founder;  if  $5,000,  a  Founder,  and  if  $10,000,  a 
Benefactor. 

Applications  for  membership  may  be  handed  to  the  Chief  Clerk,  at 
the  Society's  office  in  the  Zoological  Park,  or  forwarded  by  mail  to 
Madison  Grant,  Esq.,  General  Secretary,  Xo.  11  Wall  Street,  New  York. 


fuhltrattntta 


The  publications  of  the  Society  are  for  sale  at  the  prices  affixed  below. 
Address,  Office  of  the  Society,  Xo.  11  Wall  Street,  and  the  Xew  York 
Zoological  Park. 

FIRST   ANNUAL    REPORT Paper,  $  .40 

SECOND     Paper,  $  .75        Cloth,     1 .00 

THIRD     "  .40  .60 

FOURTH    "  .40  .60 

FIFTH     "  .75  I.OD 

SIXTH      "  .75  l.OO 

SEVENTH     "          1-00  1.25 

EIGHTH     "         l.OO  1.25 

NINTH    "         1-25  1.50 

TENTH    "         1-25  1.50 

ELEVENTH    "         1-00  1.25 

TWELFTH     •••  1-00  1.25 

THIRTEENTH      "         1.00  1.25 

NOTES  ON  MOUNTAIN  SHEEP  OF  NORTH  AMERICA.     (Hornaday) Pa  er,       .40 

DESTRUCTION  OF  OUR  BIRDS  AND  MAMMALS.     (Hornaday) .15 

THE  CARIBOU.    fGr^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;::;:::::;::::::::::::::;a  h,     ieo 

THE    ORIGIN    AND    RELATIONSHIP    OF    THE    LARGE    MAMMALS    OF    NORTH 

AMERICA.       (Grant) 1-00 

THE    ROCKY    MOUNTAIN    GOAT.     (Grant) l.OO 

SEA-SHORE  LIFE.       (Mayer) 1-20 

GUIDE-BOOK  :  New  York  Zoological  Park.      (Hornaday) 25 

THE    NATIONAL    COLLECTION    OF    HEADS    AND    HORNS.     Large    quarto.     (Horna- 

day)      Paper,     l.CO 

THE    NATIONAL    COLLECTION    OF    HEADS    AND    HORNS.    Large    quarto.     (Horna- 
day.)     Part  II • Pap".     l-OO 

BULLETINS  No.  5  to  No.  37 S  .15;  four  numbers       .50 

BULLETIN  No    6  ""*  °f  Prin^ 

BUILETIN  Nos.  5' to '23 'Inclusive'.'.' Cloth   bound      4.00 

BOOK  OF  VIEWS,  Series  1,  24  pages,  5x7  inches,  41  illustrations 25 

BOOK  OF  VIEWS,  Series  2,  36  pages,  32  colored  illustrations 50 

BOOK  OF  V.EWS    Series  3,  24  pages,  9/2xllj4   inches,  57  illustrations 1.00 

POSTAL  CARDS,  Black  and  White,  5  for  10  cents;  16  for 25 

POSTAL  CARDS,  Bromide,  Actual  Photograph,  4  for  10  cents;  11   for 25 

POSTAL  CARDS,  Hand  Colored,  3  for  10  cents;  8  for 25 

POSTAL  CARDS,  Process  Colored,  4  for  10  cents;  15  for 25 

POSTAL  CARDS,  Delft,  3  for : • 10 

POSTAL  CARDS,  Double  Delft  or  Panoramic,  each » 05 

POSTAL  CARDS  (Laparello  Albums),  containing  12  views,  each 10 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA    000909436    8 


